Synopses & Reviews
As intoxicating as the traditional music of Cuba, and as delicious as picadillo and plantains, storytelling is alive and well on the beautiful island of Cuba. Cuban folklore is particularly rich, drawing from both Hispanic and Afro-Cuban traditions. Elvia Perez, a practicing Cuban storyteller brings you 21 tales of delight and wonder-from engaging animal stories and tales of the fantastic to Afro-Cuban patakies and side-splitting tall tales from the Cuban countryside. All stories are presented in English and Spanish, making this a great resource for ESL and Spanish language classes. In addition, you'll find all the popular World Folklore series extras-a brief history of the island, traditional recipes, color photographs and drawings, even directions for Cuban children's games. A versatile book with many educational applications, this collection is a must for the library's folklore and children's collections, as well as for storytellers, teachers, and anyone else interested in learning about the traditions of Cuba. All levels.
Review
While much is known about Cuban cinema and literature--such figures as novelist Reinaldo Arenas and film classics like Memories of the Underdevelopment are internationally recognized by literature loves, film aficionados, and academicians--that is not the case with Cuban folklore....This interesting volume helps to fill in the gap.Multicultural Review
Synopsis
Readers of all ages will delight in these 21 tales from the rich traditions of the beautiful island of Cuba. With stories presented in English and Spanish, the collection also includes historical background, tale notes, recipes, games, music, and color photos.
About the Author
ELVIA PEREZ, a world-renowned storyteller, storytelling advocate, author, and journal editor who has served on the Cuban National Cultural Counsel for more than two decades and has worked extensively on storytelling programs for Cuban television. Elvia has received many distinctions for her contributions in the cultural arena, including the award "Cuentacontigo," voted by the public has their favorite performance and also the award "brocal" given to her artistic trajectory by the "Biennal de Oralidad."PAULA MARTIN, a teacher, writer and storyteller, who performs in schools and community centers in her native Argentina, and at festivals in Argentina, Cuba, and the United States.MARGARET READ MACDONALD, award-winning author, editor, storyteller and former librarian. She also seves on the Libraries Unlimited World Folklore Series Advisory BoardICTOR HERNANDEZ MORAwas born in 1964 in Habana, Cuba. Mora studied in both Habana and Santiago de Cuba. He graduated with a degree in Industrial Design from the Escuela of Diseno of Habana. He has had both collective and individual expositions in Habana at various cultural institutions and at the escuela de Altos Estudios de Hoteleria y Turismo.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction by Margaret Read MacDonald
Translator's Note by Paula Martin
Cuban Folklore
Our Island of Cuba
Cuentos de Campesinos / Stories of Country Folk
Cuentos Afrocubanos o Patakies / Afro-Cuban Tales or "Patakies"
Cuentos de Animals / Stories of Animals
Cuentos de Seres Fantasticos / Stories of Fantastic Beings
Glossary
Tale Notes and Sources
About the Author
About the Editor
About the Translator
About the Illustrator
Index