Customer Reviews

Eagle and the Rainbow: Timeless Tales from Mexico

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

"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.