Dancing Turtle: A Folktale from Brazil [Hardcover]

Pleasant DeSpain (Author), David Boston (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Turtle loves to dance and play the flute. But her exuberance puts her at risk when her music attracts the attention of a hunter who brings her home for turtle stew. After she is caught, her only hope for escape is the hunter's children ... and her own wit. This folktale, first told by the indigenous people of Brazil, is now told throughout Latin America. The versions are as different as the cultures that contain them, but all of them celebrate Turtle, who carries the world and its wisdom on her ....

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3AThe main character of this Brazilian trickster tale is a chubby turtle with an engaging smile, who loves to play her flute and dance. A man captures her and takes her home for a turtle-soup feast the next day. That afternoon, when he leaves her in his son and daughter's care and goes out to work the fields, Turtle promises to dance for the children if they let her out of the cage. Once freed, Turtle pretends to fall asleep, and subsequently escapes. The father returns home and vows to recapture the cunning animal. An ambiguous conclusion allows readers to determine Turtle's fate. An introductory source note explains that although indigenous peoples of Brazil created this folktale, it is now also told as far away as Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Although the oversized watercolor illustrations are colorful and attractive, the human faces are sometimes unnatural looking, and the little girl's arms and legs seem to grow and shrink on alternate pages. While young readers may enjoy identifying the many rain-forest animals hiding in the background scenery, the story is stronger than the art.ADenise E. Agosto, formerly at Midland County Public Library, TX
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 5^-8. DeSpain's extensive storytelling experience comes through in this well-honed trickster tale from Latin America. It opens in the Brazilian rain forest as a flute-playing turtle is captured by a hungry man. Locked in a cage, Turtle tells the man's children that she will dance for them if they let her out. Turtle twirls, bobs, weaves, jumps, and crawls. Then pretending to be hot and tired, she escapes. The quality of the artwork isn't up to that of the text. However, the paintings, dominated by shades of green and punctuated by reds, oranges, and yellows, capture the diverse flora and fauna (people included) of the region. This lighthearted tale ends on an understanding note as the boy and girl try--but fail--to pass off a painted rock as their missing dinner. For large collections. Julie Corsaro

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: August House (December 29, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087483502X
• ISBN-13: 978-0874835021
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #444,747 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #78 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Explore the World > Central & South America
  • #84 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Turtles

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dancing Turtle, October 10, 2007

By 

Dotty Plowman (Iowa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dancing Turtle: A Folktale from Brazil (Hardcover)

This book was brought for granddaughter because her daddy came from Brazil. My daughter wanted her to have story book about Brazil.