Eagle and the Rainbow: Timeless Tales from Mexico [Hardcover]

Antonio Hernandez Madrigal (Author), Tomie dePaola (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 13, 1997 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

This wonderful collection of Mexican folktales recaptures the legends of the great tribes of México. With robust illustrations by Caldecott award–winning Tomie DePaola, The Eagle and the Rainbow shares the stories of brave Aztec warriors, artistic Tarascans, fleet endurance runners of the Tarahumaras, and other exciting tales.

Rejoice when Atzimba saves the tribe from the wrath of the volcano. Discover how Fast as Deer brings a rainbow to his people, saving them from drought and famine. Run with Tahui as he overcomes a devastating illness to enter the Great Race. Filled with insight and wisdom, each tale brings ancient Mexico to life. Includes a glossary of terms.

Antonio Hernández Madrigal was born and raised in the state of Michoacan, México, where he often listened to tales told by his great-grandmother, a healer and storyteller of the Tarascan tribe. His is also the co-author with Tomie DePaola of Erandi’s Braids and author of Blanca’s Feather.

Tomie DePaola, best-selling illustrator and winner of the Caldecott Honor Book Award and many other awards, has illustrated nearly two hundred books and has written the stories for nearly one-third of those books. He is beloved by children and adults and best known for his “Strega Nona” character, and more than five million copies of his books are in print in fifteen different countries.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 4^-7, younger for reading aloud. With dePaola's richly colored, robust illustrations, this is a tiny treasure of hard-to-find Mexican folktales that sparkles with wisdom and wonder. The selection is small--five legends, one each from five of the indigenous cultures of Mexico. At the conclusion of each legend, Madrigal provides a brief description of the culture and customs of the people to whom the legend is attributed. However, he provides no source notes of any kind for his resonant retellings. And, unfortunately, the decorative motifs used throughout the text are sometimes in color and sometimes not. A rare collection of Mexican folktales for children, this valuable gem would have benefited from more professional polish. Annie Ayres

About the Author

Antonio Hernandez Madrigal was born and raised int he state of Michoacan, Mexico. Inspired by his favorite author, Henry David Thoreau, he came to the United States in search of better working opportunities. He began his writing career in 1994.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Fulcrum Publishing; First Edition edition (January 13, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555913172
• ISBN-13: 978-1555913175
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #409,330 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Stilted and dry--a definite pass, July 31, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Eagle and the Rainbow: Timeless Tales from Mexico (Hardcover)

Mexican folklore is rich in tradition and in the hands of a gifted teller, it can draw in children. Madrigal's telling, however, is stilted and dry; the langauge, formal. The tales could be so much better; they seem to lack personality. The illustrations, though adequate, looked rushed and are not up to dePaola's usual standards. Overall, I was disappointed in this text and would recommend a pass.

5.0 out of 5 stars Directed towards a midgrade audience of students ages 8-12, April 9, 2010

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Eagle and the Rainbow: Timeless Tales from Mexico (Paperback)

"The Eagle and the Rainbow: Timeless Tales from Mexico" is a beautifully illustrated collection of Mesoamerican indigenous traditional tales from Tarascan, Mayan, Huichol, Tarahumaran, and Aztec sources. Each chapter tells a different traditional tale illustrating desired qualities, beliefs, attitudes, or strengths in its heroic characters and sacred beings. At the end of each chapter tale is an information summary about the tribe's cultural identity, history, geographic location, and current population and conditions as well as customs and beliefs. The legends include The Eagle and the Rainbow (Huichol), Tahui (Tarahumara), The Boy Who Cried Tears of Jade (Mayan), Tribe of the Deer (Tarascan), and Legend of the Feathered Serpent (Aztec). Some of these tales are more well known than others, but all are ever fresh and fascinating. "The Eagle and the Rainbow" is directed towards a midgrade audience of students ages 8-12, and also contains a helpful glossary of related indigenous terms and names at the end.