Anything is possible in the world of Latin American folklore: Aunt Misery traps Death in a pear tree; Lucia Zenteno carries away a river in her hair; shapeshifting Amazonian dolphins lure young girls to their underwater city; the Feathered Snake brings the first musicians to Earth; and a farmer discovers that doing favors for the Lord of Creation can lead to disaster.

One in a series of folklore reference guides (""...an invaluable resource..."" - School Library Journal), this book features 470 tales told in Mexico, Central America and South America, a region underrepresented in collections of world folklore. Gathered from 21 countries, this volume includes English translations of stories from the Inca, Maya, and Aztec civilizations, Spanish and Portuguese missionaries and colonists, African slave cultures and more than 75 indigenous tribes. The tales are numbered and grouped into themed sections.

About the Author
Sharon Barcan Elswit has been working as a children's librarian for nearly thirty years. She currently teaches in New York City, USA. She writes reviews for Jewish Book World and has published in School Library Journal, Writer's Digest, and other magazines.

Reviews
"recommended"-Choice; "gather[s] 470 tales from 21 countries and 75 indigenous tribes...a pleasure"-Library Journal; "a fascinating mixture of Spanish, Portuguese, and indigenous Native American narratives...excellent resource...valuable"-Oklahoma State University Libraries; "a unique resource on over 470 Latin American tales"-ARBA; "highly recommended"-Hispania; "The book is comprehensive and well organized. It covers the entire field interestingly, serving as in introduction to one of the most engaging domains in world folklore."-Marvels & Tales: Journal of Fairy-Tale Studies.



Book Information
ISBN 9780786478958
Author Sharon Barcan Elswit
Format Paperback
Page Count 328
Imprint McFarland & Co Inc
Publisher McFarland & Co Inc
Weight(grams) 583g