Customer Reviews

Emerald Lizard (World Storytelling)

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

 

 

Finally, a Latin American collection of tellable tales that is full of variety (15 different cultures and countries)and enlivened tales. I'm a true fan of DeSpain's books because I find them so useful in the classroom. This collection is one of his best as the stories elicit so much interest in Latin America. Also, DeSpain says that he writes his versions down after telling them aloud for some time. I believe him. These read like they're being told.

We purchased this book because we wanted to give our daughter a chance to hear stories and folktales past generations grew up with. As with most folktales, many of the stories are similar tales told from other cultures, however with a Latin spin to them. This is a great book to read, especially since the stories are in English and Spanish. I only wish there was at least one more folktale from Puerto Rico, but that isn't a knock against this book. If you're looking for a bilingual book to read to your child, this would be a great addition.

I read these stories when seeking a painless way to brush up my Spanish, after quickly getting totally bored with online "Spanish for tourists" programs. The stories turned out to be a varied and delightful peek into Latin American culture. If you already know some Spanish, I recommend reading the Spanish version first, then going back and reading the English to see what you missed. Read them out loud to practice speaking.

My husband and I are studying Spanish and found this book to be "just right" for continued learning. The folk tales are interesting cultural experiences, and the reading in Spanish is not too difficult. If we do not know the word, we can look at the English version. It's a perfect book for us but also great for young children. We have read the stories to our grandchildren in English, or they have read them to us.