Mexican+Folktales

=Mexican Folktales =

In order to support the predominantly Mexican and Mexican-American culture at the elementary school where I current work as the library media specialist, I choose to conduct futher research on Mexican folktales. I am quickly learning that most Mexican folktales are rich with Aztec, Inca, or Mayan Indian influences.


 * [[image:Fiesta_Feminina.jpg width="214" height="252" caption="Fiesta Femenina Book Jacket"]] || Gerson, Mary-Joan. //Fiesta Femenina//. Illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez. 2001. 64p. Barefoot Books. $19.99 ISBN: 9781841483658

Plot Summary
This book is a collection of eight folktales from Mexico where the lead protagonist is a strong female. Each tale celebrates one of Mexico’s deep rooted cultural heritages in Aztec, Mayan, Mixtec and Yaqui folklore.

Critical Analysis
In this collection of folktales, Mary-Joan Gerson selected stories featuring women who show complexity, inner strength, and magical creativity from a variety of the country's rich cultural traditions. Through source notes and a well written introduction you learn that these tales are from a multiplicity of documented sources from a mixture of cultures within Mexico such as the Aztec, Mayan, Mixtec and Yaqui. The illustrator Maya Christina Gonzalez added to the overall pictoral authenticity to the book by using strong bold colors common within the Mexican culture, but also with her depiction of the strong facial features of the woman in this region. ||


 * [[image:La_Llorona.jpg width="196" height="250" caption="La Llorona The Weeping Woman Book Jacket"]] || Hayes, Joe. //La Llorona The Weeping Woman//. Illustrated by Vicki Trego Hill and Mona Pennypacker. 2004. 32p Cinco Puntos Press. $16.95 ISBN: 9780938317869

Plot Summary
This is a tale about a woman who throws her children in a river in response to an unfaithful husband that displays more affection for his children than for his wife. Once she realizes what she has done she is consumed by grief and in her own death is destined to wander the riverbanks for eternity calling for her missing children.

Critical Analysis
In this well known Hispanic tale author Joe Hayes does his best to make this tale child friendly by taking out some of the darker side of the tale. While the author does support the Hispanic heritage of the story with language, he is missing some of the authenticity by leaving out important cultural factors such as social economic class as well as her occupation. Through notes to readers and storytellers Hayes gives readers insight as to the origin of this tale, but maintains his version comes from oral telling he heard growing up. Illustrators Vicki Trego Hill and Mona Pennypacker did an excellent job picking up the authenticity in the illustrations of classic scenery, clothing, and depiction of a native Hispanic person. ||


 * [[image:Cucu-Cuckoo.jpg width="195" height="240" caption="Cuckoo Book Jacket"]] || Ehlert, Lois. //Cuckoo//. Illustrated by Lois Ehlert. 1997. 32p. Harcourt Brace & Company. $17.00 ISBN: 9780152002749

Plot Summary
Cuckoo is a pretty bird, but this pretty bird doesn’t feel that she has to do her share of the work. Although when tragedy threatens the field where she and other animals call home Cuckoo is the only one that can save day.

Critical Analysis
In this adaptation of a Mayan tale, author Lois Ehlert strikes up more authenticity with illustrations over the text within the book. By using strong geometric shapes, bold colors, and other crafts that are widely popular with the Mexican community this ties the book to its Mexican heritage. The author does provide an end note inform where another version of the story can be found. ||


 * [[image:Horse_Hooves_&_Chicken_Feet.jpg width="210" height="210" caption="Horse Hooves and Chicken Feet Mexian Folktales Book Jacket"]] || Philip, Neil. //Horse Hooves and Chicken Feet Mexican Folktales//. Illustrated by Jacqueline Mair 2003 83p Clarion Books. $21.00 ISBN: 9780618194636

Plot Summary
This book is a collection of 14 unique Mexican folktales highlighting the rich tradition of Mexico’s culture. Readers meet diverse characters such as witches, animals, and regualr people who have magical experiences. Religious themes or more specifically Catholic imagery is prevalent within the stories.

Critical Analysis
The collection of Mexican folktales that Phillip has collected has ties not only to Mexico but also from the Mexican-American population of New Mexico and Colorado. The tales include a fascinating range of “tale types” that can be associated with Grimms tales but also //Arabian Nights//. While the tales might resemble or be influenced by other tales they are each distinctly given the flare of Mexican culture. Phillip’s introduction and notes on the stories adds to the authenticity to understand where the particular tale originates from as well as other places similar tales can be located. Jacqueline Mair adds to the flavor of this collection with her simple yet distinct illustrations with bold and bright color often associated with Mexican art. ||


 * [[image:MusiciansOfTheSun.jpg width="210" height="176" caption="Musicians of the Sun Book Jacket"]] || McDermott, Gerald. //Musicians of the Sun//. 1997. 32p Simon & Schuster. $17.00 ISBN: 9780689807060

Plot Summary
This story is a fragment of a mythological tradition of the Aztecs. The Aztec deity, Tezcatlipoca (Lord of the Night) uses a magical object to see his world. He quickly notices how drab it looks and summons Ecehatl (Wind God) to steal the musicians of the sun from Tonatiuh (Sun God) in order to bring color and music to the Earth.

Critical Analysis
McDermott does an excellent job of retelling this Aztec tale. According to his source notes the original text for this version of the tale written by Fray Andres de Olmos was lost, but the text was saved by a French translation that was written down. With the similarity between the native Aztec drawings and bold colors McDermott's illustrations add to the Aztec cultural feel of this story throughout the book. ||
 * Book Review Sources:**
 * TWU Databases:** Wilson Web - Book Review Digest Plus

Del Negro, Janice M.. "Cuckoo. Cucú (Book Review)." //Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 50// (1997): 356. Article Citation. Web. 8 July 2010.
 * Works Consulted**

Welton, Ann. "Cuckoo. Cucú (Book Review)." //School Library Journal// 43 (1997): 174. Article Citation. Web. 8 July 2010.

Card, Timnah. "[La Llorona]." //Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books// 58.5 (2005): 211. Article Citation. Web. 8 July 2010.

"[La llorona/The weeping woman]." //School Library Journal// 51.1 (2005): 120. Article Citation. Web. 8 July 2010.

Del Negro, Janice M.. "Fiesta femenina (Book Review)." //Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books// 55.3 (2001): 103. Article Citation. Web. 8 July 2010.

Ayres, Annie. "Fiesta feminina (Book Review)." //Booklist// 98.2 (2001): 226. Article Citation. Web. 8 July 2010.

Welton, Ann. "[Horse hooves and chicken feet]." //School Library Journal// 49.9 (2003): 235-6. Article Citation. Web. 9 July 2010.

Morning, Todd. "{Horse Hooves and Chicken Feet}." //Booklist// 100.4 (2003): 406. Article Citation. Web. 9 July 2010.

Gosner, Pam. "Musicians of the sun (Book Review)." //School Library Journal// 43 (1997): 111. Article Citation. Web. 9 July 2010.

Rochman, Hazel. "Musicians of the sun (Book Review)." //Booklist// 94 (1997): 467. Article Citation. Web. 9 July 2010.