A stunning anthology brought to life by colorful art from four leading Hispanic artists presents the authors' retellings of more than ten traditional tales accompanied by information on their origins and different versions. - (Baker & Taylor)

Presents the authors' retellings of more than ten traditional tales accompanied by information on origins and different versions. - (Baker & Taylor)

Once upon a time, in a land far away...

These stories have journeyed far -- over mountains, deserts, and oceans -- carried by wind, passed on to us by our ancestors. Now they have found their way to you.

A sly fox, a bird of a thousand colors, a magical set of bagpipes, and an audacious young girl...A mixture of popular tales and literary lore, this anthology celebrates Hispanic culture and its many roots -- Indigenous, African, Arab, Hebrew, and Spanish.

F. Isabel Campoy and Alma Flor Ada have retold twelve beloved stories that embody the lively spirit and the rich heritage of Latino people.

The work of four leasing Latino artists and illustrators highlights this unforgettable collection. - (Simon and Schuster)

Alma Flor Ada, an authority on multicultural and bilingual education, is the recipient of the 2012 Virginia Hamilton Literary Award, and in 2014 she was honored by the Mexican government with the prestigious OHTLI Award. She is the author of numerous award-winning books for young readers, including Dancing Home with Gabriel Zubizarreta, My Name Is María Isabel, Under the Royal Palms (Pura Belpré Medal), Where the Flame Trees Bloom, and The Gold Coin (Christopher Award Medal). She lives in California, and you can visit her at AlmaFlorAda.com. - (Simon and Schuster)

Booklist Reviews

The long chatty notes are as interesting as the 12 folktales in this anthology of stories retold by Ada and Campoy and illustrated by well-known Latino artists. The authors celebrate Hispanic culture and its many roots--indigenous, African, Spanish, Arab, Hebrew--assembling tales from as far afield as Spain and Idaho, and showing how the tales have transformed and influenced one another, and even how Ada and Campoy have changed them. The folklore universals are here: the kid who defeats his mean older brothers; the huge monster routed by an ant; and more. In "Blancaflor," the evil king's daughter and the young prince fulfill three tasks together and prove the power of love. The spacious book design will work well for both independent reading and reading aloud, and each story is illustrated with one or more full-page pictures in styles that match the stories--from busy and filled to bursting to light and airy. ((Reviewed September 1, 2006)) Copyright 2006 Booklist Reviews

Horn Book Guide Reviews

This collection presents twelve Latino folktales, some well known and some more obscure, each of which concludes with thoughtful source notes. The four illustrators' styles, although different, are unified by some common design elements and complement the stories they accompany. Sections titled "To Begin a Story" and "To End a Story" give Spanish- and English-language equivalents for traditional story starters and endings. Copyright 2007 Horn Book Guide Reviews.

School Library Journal Reviews

Gr 3 Up The introduction to this delightful collection explains clearly how stories develop and change over time; in fact, the two storytellers heard most of these amusing tales when they were children and have retold them many times since in their own unique styles. Each retelling is accompanied by a brief description of its origin. Included are tales about dancing goats, a turtle that outwits a deer, and a beetle that declares war on a cow; all of the selections are peppered with energetic dialogue and witty detail. Children will relish their humor, especially if read aloud, and teens will also enjoy this lively presentation. Traditional story beginnings and endings are provided in Spanish and translated into English, including one foreboding opening: "In a land where you will go but from where you will never return." Four Latino artists provide an interesting variety of illustration. Featured images include a large goat head in a vegetable garden, a large farmer on a very small burro, and a wolf and fox all decked out in finery dancing together. The last page provides information about the authors and illustrators. Many libraries may already have Lucia M. Gonzalez's Seor Cat's Romance (Scholastic, 2001), but only one tale is common to both collections. Make room on your shelves for this excellent book.Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma County Library, CA