Emerald Lizard (World Storytelling) [Hardcover]

DeSpain (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: World Storytelling

For the past three decades, Pleasant DeSpain has explored Latin America, its countries, countrysides, customs, cultures, and especially, its stories. While his repertoire of traditional world folktales includes narratives from almost every culture around the globe, DeSpain's talent shines even brighter when relating the legends from Latin America. His exploration of the heart and soul of this enormous region demonstrates his passion for Latin America and its people and their stories.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

A bilingual anthology of 15 traditional folktales, myths, and legends, each from a different Latin American culture. The collection includes a few familiar stories such as "Juan Bobo," the Puerto Rican tale of a son who dresses the family pig in his mother's finest clothes. Most of the tales are less well known to U.S. audiences, such as "The Crocodile Man," the Colombian story of a man who transforms himself into a crocodile to be with the woman he loves. Told in simple language and in abbreviated form, these selections are easy for beginning storytellers to learn. Experienced tellers will find them useful when time restraints preclude the telling of longer tales. Average-quality, full-page sketches, reproduced in shades of charcoal, introduce each of the stories, and smaller designs, which appear to be scratchboard, follow each selection. Source notes in English are appended.
Denise E. Agosto, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Language Notes

Text: English, Spanish
Original Language: English

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: August House (December 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874835518
• ISBN-13: 978-0874835519
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,908,518 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Emerald lizard, Fifteen Latin American Tales to Tell, September 13, 2000

By 

Edward Feazell (Lakewood, Colorado United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Emerald Lizard (World Storytelling) (Paperback)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bought this to read stories to our baby girl!, July 18, 2010

By 

RockyAnastasio - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Emerald Lizard (World Storytelling) (Paperback)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Relearn Spanish with enjoyment, May 12, 2007

By 

Emily Stoper "lifelong reader" (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Emerald Lizard (World Storytelling) (Paperback)

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.