When Woman Became the Sea: A Costa Rican Creation Myth [Hardcover]

Susan Strauss (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Oh, how the world is changed when a woman begins to wonder! When Woman Became the Sea is Costa Rica's beautiful story of how the world began. Sibu creates the world but cannot decide what is missing. To get help from Thunder, Sibu creates something intriguing and magical for his friend: a woman named Sea. Sea soon becomes frustrated obeying the ridiculous commands of Sibu and Thunder and thinks to herself, "I wonder why I should listen to this man telling me one thing, and this man telling me something else, and I think I just won't listen to them any more." Enchanted by her new freedom, she lets down her guard and is bitten by a magical snake. Sea appears to die, but a tree grows out of her burial bundle. Like a butterfly from a cocoon, the waters of the world and the creatures of the sea burst forth from this great tree. Sibu realizes that the Sea is the missing piece, and he is thankful for her crowning creation.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In a breathless, exclamation-point-filled narrative, Strauss (Coyote Stories for Children) introduces Sibu the creator, who can't determine what crucial element is missing from his newly fashioned world. He wants to ask his friend Thunder for advice, but can't get Thunder's attention until he creates Sea, the first woman, whom Thunder takes as his wife. Sea "became full with child" and, as a result of defying the orders of both Sibu and Thunder, her walking stick turns into a venomous snake that bites her. However, before she dies, her belly bursts open; she sprouts a "magnificent tree," which then releases "all the waters of the world" and makes Sibu's world "complete at last." As a read-aloud, Strauss's frequent use of alliteration and onomatopoeic sounds (as those uttered by Thunder), together with Acosta's electrically hued paintings, may catch readers' attention, but the meandering, confusing story line will leave questions hovering at the book's conclusion. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-This creation story from the Cabecar and Bribri people of Costa Rica explains the connection between trees and water. Sibu has created the world, but he feels that something is missing. He wants help from Thunder, but cannot seem to get his attention. So Sibu creates the first woman and names her Sea. The minute Thunder sees her, he asks her to be his wife. After she is bitten by a snake and falls into a deep sleep, Thunder and Sibu lovingly wrap her in a bundle of leaves. Eventually she turns into a tree, and then bursts open to spill out all of the waters of the world-the missing element. Strauss is a storyteller and her colloquial, rhythmic narrative just begs to be read or told aloud. The vivid acrylic illustrations make the most of strong shapes, swirling brush strokes, and clean blocks of color to create a primitive style emboldened by a sense of movement, perfect for a myth about making and doing. The page layout is excellent, with spiraled, scriptlike print balancing and enhancing the kinetic look of the artwork. Put forward by the author as a "...poetic [image] of science," this could be used in conjunction with factual books on the rainforest, as well as with other Latin American folktales such as Lois Ehlert's Moon Rope/Un lazo a la luna (1992) and Cuckoo/Cucu (1997, both Harcourt), which also serve to explain natural phenomena.
Ann Welton, Terminal Park Elementary School, Auburn, WA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Beyond Words Publishing (September 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885223854
• ISBN-13: 978-1885223852
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,211,375 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I really loved reading this story and looking at the art., November 14, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: When Woman Became the Sea: A Costa Rican Creation Myth (Hardcover)

I am a mother of two small children ( 2 & 3) and they really enjoyed listening to this story being told aloud at a recent book signing. The colorful art on every page keeps my children very interested in this wonderful book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Illustration, December 2, 2005

By 

Raquel Chacon-Angobaldo "Rocky" (Winston-Salem, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When Woman Became the Sea: A Costa Rican Creation Myth (Hardcover)

I have a five year old, Diego, that absolutely loves this book. I am originally from Costa Rica and was looking for books that would interest him while teaching him something as well. This book reminds us that there are many wonderful ideas and theories that explain the beginnings of the Earth and that it is wonderful to share in others' thoughts (on this and other subjects). The illustrations are amazing. The colors are vibrant and the characters are each beautiful in their own way. I now have a 7 month old daughter, Sofia, and I can't wait to share it with her.