Little Book of Latin American Folktales

US Books > Children's Books > Ages 9-12 > General

When stories travel, they change. The authors of the stories in this anthology range from folklorists to simple storytellers, but they all have in common their Criollo (Creole) roots. Here they have specifically sought out traditional European tales that have been transplanted and transformed in Latin American culture. Readers find fascinatingly different versions of "Cinderella" ("Maria Tolete"), "The Flying Boat" ("Juan Cenizo"), and "Hansel and Gretel" ("Ocelot, Jaguar, and Lion"), as well as many others. These folktales are suffused with that special Criollo style that combines humor, a tropical setting, and an exuberance that is peculiarly Latin American.