Tales of the Amazon: How the Munduruku Indians Live [Hardcover]

Daniel Munduruku (Author), Laurabeatriz (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

A member of a local Amazon tribe takes readers deep into the heart of Brazil in this lavish picture book. First, we meet a young Munduruku boy and discover how he is trained in the sacred ways of a shaman. In the second part, the author recounts his journey to the city after growing up among the trees and animals of the jungle, describing what he found there and how the people he met treated him. Part three offers a portrait of Amazonian culture - how they live, their legends, and their language.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-A unique view of life in the Amazon rain forest. The author first tells the story of a young Munduruku boy, Kaxi, raised to be a shaman. His preparation to provide healing and spiritual guidance to his people involves a growing knowledge of threats posed by outsiders greedy for land, trees, and gold. The account of his childhood ends with a dream in which he sees the troubles facing his community and he returns "-to guide his people toward their future-." Laurabeatriz's richly textured paintings offer an idyllic view of Kaxi's unfettered life. The middle section resembles a textbook about Brazil's indigenous people and has a rather dry style. Line drawings accompany brief discussions of topics such as languages, houses, marriage, myths, and music. Several pages of small photographs of the Munduruku provide a bridge to the third section, the author's account of his life outside his tribe. He offers examples of encounters that reveal the ignorant attitudes toward and general mistrust of indigenous peoples by those in mainstream Brazilian culture. Unfortunately, the list for further reading is somewhat dated. This volume offers a valuable perspective on life in the Amazon rain forest, usually described by visitors, not inhabitants.
Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 72 pages
• Publisher: Groundwood Books; 1 edition (June 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0888993927
• ISBN-13: 978-0888993922
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,893,326 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)