A Wave in Her Pocket: Stories from Trinidad [Paperback]

Lynn Joseph (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Five young cousins have plenty to do on the island but there's always time to hear one of Tantie's stories.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Trinidad native Joseph ( Coconut Kind of Day ) draws on her childhood for this seamless anthology. Told in the idiomatic, lilting cadences of the West Indies, the stories--some scary, some funny, some poignant--beg to be read aloud. Readers meet many of the exotic characters of Trinidad's rich oral tradition, including the soucouyant (a witch who becomes a ball of flame at night), the ligahoo (a being able to change shape at will) and the ghosts or jumbies who lurk in graveyards. Tantie ("great-aunt") is the storyteller whose narrative unfolds through the eyes of grandniece Amber. In a fitting finale that is at once touching and deliciously hair-raising, Tantie passes Amber the storytelling torch--as well as a necklace of bright beads given to her by Papa Bois, a forest spirit with cloven hooves. Rich in island atmosphere, Pinkney's ( The Ballad of Belle Dorcas ) scratchboard illustrations put the crowning touch on this superbly crafted collection, which deserves a place on any folklore shelf. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4-- Tantie Delphine's stories liven all family gatherings, and serve the equally profound purpose of passing the culture to a new generation. She tells scary stories about the the ball-of-fire vampire and the Ligahoo, who brings floods; tender stories of Tantie's lost lover; trickster stories of talking monkeys; or curious stories of enchanted beads and knowledge of the future. Joseph recreates moments from her own childhood on the island of Trinidad for a wider audience without sacrificing any of the unique flavor and immediacy of some new/old legends. Graceful prose and enthralling use of the island vernacular will make delightful story times. What lucky children to have such a storytelling tantie, and how lucky readers are to have Joseph to pass the tales on to them. Pinkney's expressive scratchboard drawings complement each story with a portrait of the protagonist or the action from his own point of view. --Ruth Semrau, Lovejoy School, Allen, TX
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 51 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (September 20, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395813093
• ISBN-13: 978-0395813096
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,300,245 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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