Song Of The Chirimia - A Guatemalan Folktale
Retold and illustrated by Jane Anne Volkmer
This is a retelling of a Guatemalan folktale about a young man who tries to win
the hand of a Mayan princess. When he discovered he cannot make his song as sweet
as that of the birds, he despairs. A spirit appears to him, makes him a chirimia
(a recorder like musical instrument), and his songs become more beautiful than
the birds.
This story is illustrated in the style of ancient Mayan drawings. Each paragraph
of the story is translated into Spanish either immediately below, or next to,
the English text.
Here is a photo of a woman in Guatemalan traditional clothing playing a chirimia.
Photo
This book might lead to an exploration of musical instruments. Here is the New York
Philharmonic web site for kids.
NY Philharmonic Inside
there are things to see and listen to. There is also an exhaustive list of
instruments, many of which will be new to elementary aged children.
Copyright 1990 by Carolrhoda Books, Inc.
Published by Caroirhoda Books,Inc
ISBN # 0-87614-423-7
This story is illustrated in the style of ancient Mayan drawings. Each paragraph of the story is translated into Spanish either immediately below, or next to, the English text. Here is a photo of a woman in Guatemalan traditional clothing playing a chirimia. Photo
This book might lead to an exploration of musical instruments. Here is the New York Philharmonic web site for kids. NY Philharmonic Inside there are things to see and listen to. There is also an exhaustive list of instruments, many of which will be new to elementary aged children.
How We came to the Fifth World A creation story from
Ancient Mexico
Adapted by Harriet Rohmer & Mary Anchondo
Illustrator: Graciela Carrillo
This is a simple retelling of a creation story from ancient Mexico.
The Aztec elders believed that the world was created four times before our
present fifth world and that the earlier worlds were destroyed because humans
were selfish and ignored their gods.
This story is illustrated in the style of somewhat primitive art - bold lines
and vivid colors with simplified drawings and shapes - based on the original
Indian picture writings. Each paragraph of the story is translated into
Spanish either immediately below, or next to, the English text.
There are also pronunciation helps on some pages.
A school in California did a very long mural on their school's wall using this
book as a basis for the illustrations. Would you like to take a look?
See the Mural
Here is a listing of other books similar to this book by the same publisher:
More Books
Here is a site where the same story is written in a slightly different
version. The text includes a few animated illustrations.
Kokopelli
Copyright: 1976 by Children's Book Press
Published by Children's Book Press
ISBN # 0-89239-024-7
Illustrator: Graciela Carrillo This is a simple retelling of a creation story from ancient Mexico. The Aztec elders believed that the world was created four times before our present fifth world and that the earlier worlds were destroyed because humans were selfish and ignored their gods.
This story is illustrated in the style of somewhat primitive art - bold lines and vivid colors with simplified drawings and shapes - based on the original Indian picture writings. Each paragraph of the story is translated into Spanish either immediately below, or next to, the English text. There are also pronunciation helps on some pages. A school in California did a very long mural on their school's wall using this book as a basis for the illustrations. Would you like to take a look? See the Mural
Here is a listing of other books similar to this book by the same publisher: More Books
Here is a site where the same story is written in a slightly different version. The text includes a few animated illustrations. Kokopelli
ATARIBA & NIGUYONA A Puerto Rico Folktale
Adapted by Harriet Rohmer & Jesus Guerrero Rea
Illustrator: Consuelo Mendez
A golden-green macaw tells Niguayona, a young hero from the ancient Tanio
people of Puerto Rico, that he can help his sick playmate by bringing her
the red fruit of the tall caimoni tree. Niguayona sets out on a magical journey
and returns just in time to save the spirited Atariba.
This story is illustrated in the style of somewhat primitive art - bold lines
and vivid colors with simplified drawings and shapes. Each paragraph of the
story is translated into Spanish either immediately below, or next to, the
English text. There are also pronunciation helps on each page.
Here is a site with lesson plans for a Latin American/Taino Indian cultural awareness unit.
Lesson Plans
Here is a listing of other books similar to this book:
More Books
Jane Yolen did a wonderful book on the coming of Columbus to the Americas and
his interaction with the Tanio Indians entitled Encounter. Here is a link to her web site:
Jane Yolen There you will find other folk
tales and original fairy tales.
Copyright: 1988 by Children's Book Press
Published by Children's Book Press
ISBN # 0-89239-026-3
Here is a listing of other books similar to this book: More Books
Jane Yolen did a wonderful book on the coming of Columbus to the Americas and his interaction with the Tanio Indians entitled Encounter. Here is a link to her web site: Jane Yolen There you will find other folk tales and original fairy tales.
The Flame of Peace A Tale of the Aztecs
Deborah Nourse Lattimore
To prevent the outbreak of war, a young Aztec boy, Two Flint, must outwit nine
evil lords of the night to obtain the flame of peace from Lord Morning Star.
This story is illustrated in a style somewhat like the early Aztec carvings
that have been discovered in recent times. The drawings are intricate and rich
with color and life. This is written in English, but the pages are numbered using
the Aztec numbering system.
Elementary grade students might enjoy linking the Aztec flame of peace with
the flame of peace symbolized by the Olympic Torch.
Here is a site with a concentration game about the Olympic Torch.
Torch Game
Older children might be able to link the bringing of the flame of peace to
the destruction of weapons. Here is a news release about such a modern ceremony.
Destruction of Guns
Here is a link to a web site that incorporates the idea of counting by nines:
Lesson Plan Link It might make the beginnings of the 9's unit in multiplication.
Copyright: 1987 by Deborah Nourse Lattimore
Published by Harpher Trophy
ISBN # 0-06-023708-2
This story is illustrated in a style somewhat like the early Aztec carvings that have been discovered in recent times. The drawings are intricate and rich with color and life. This is written in English, but the pages are numbered using the Aztec numbering system. Elementary grade students might enjoy linking the Aztec flame of peace with the flame of peace symbolized by the Olympic Torch. Here is a site with a concentration game about the Olympic Torch. Torch Game
Older children might be able to link the bringing of the flame of peace to the destruction of weapons. Here is a news release about such a modern ceremony. Destruction of Guns
Here is a link to a web site that incorporates the idea of counting by nines: Lesson Plan Link It might make the beginnings of the 9's unit in multiplication.
How the Sun Was Born / Como El Sol Nacio
Written and Illustrated by third-grade art students
at Drexel Elementary School, Tucson, Arizona
This story was created by students after they began studying ancient cultures
of Mexico. The illustrations are inspired by yard designs of the
Huichol Inians of Mexico. The story is a creation story based on the
ancient Aztec idea of the sun having human and animal characteristics.
Each paragraph of the story is translated into Spanish.
This book won the annual Kids are Authors Competition. Each year the winning
book is published. Scholastic has taken over this competition.
Kids are Authors Contest
If you or your class is interested in writing children's books, this site
is a must visit:
Help for Authors
Copyright 1993 by Willowisp Press, Inc.
Published by Willowisp Press
ISBN # 0-87406-649-2
This book won the annual Kids are Authors Competition. Each year the winning book is published. Scholastic has taken over this competition. Kids are Authors Contest
If you or your class is interested in writing children's books, this site is a must visit: Help for Authors
Disclaimer ---
This site was created by Diane Brown and Michelle Madden to fulfill requirements for an Oklahoma State University graduate class. This site is not considered to be child-safe because some of the sites referenced within this site link to the world wide web.
This page last updated April 24, 2003
