Cuentos que contaban nuestras abuelas, Tales Our Abuelitas Told, Del Sol Books

Authors : Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy, Illustrators : Felipe Davalos, Susan Guevara, and Leyla Torres, Contributor : Felipe Davalos
3rd Grade and Up

Cuentos que contaban nuestras abuelas
Tales Our Abuelitas Told

Cuentos que contaban nuestras abuelas, Softcover, Spanish, Book, Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy, Felipe Davalos, Susan Guevara, and Leyla Torres, Felipe Davalos, 3rd Grade and Up, 9781416939658, $12.99
Cuentos que contaban nuestras abuelas, Hardcover, Spanish, Book, Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy, Felipe Davalos, Susan Guevara, and Leyla Torres, Felipe Davalos, 3rd Grade and Up, 9781416919056, $19.95
Cuentos que contaban nuestras abuelas, Spanish, 2 CDs, Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy , 3rd Grade and Up, $19.95 Listen
Tales Our Abuelitas Told, Hardcover, English, Book, Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy, Felipe Davalos, Susan Guevara, and Leyla Torres, Felipe Davalos, 3rd Grade and Up, 9780689825835, $19.95 Watch

American Federation of Teachers' Colorín Colorado's Website, Featured Book of the Month
Kirkus Review, List of 100 Best Children´s Books for 2006
Literary Guild Award
New York Public Library, List of Best Children´s Books for 2006
Nick Jr. Magazine, List of Best Children´s Books for 2006
Parent´s Choice Recommended Children´s Books for 2006

Authors' Note : Writing Tales Our Abuelitas Told was for me a way of honoring my extraordinary grand mother, Dolores Salvador, as well as and an expression of love and hope for my nine grandchildren, as I have expressed in my dedication. I am sure it means some thing very similar for Isabel, whose dedication is to her great-nephew Pablito. We are very grateful that these beloved tales are being so well received assuring that their continue to live for all children.

Traditional tales open our hearts to old voices and new worlds, to wondrous adventures and ever lasting feelings. Words like Había una vez or Érase que se era, hold for the listener or reader the magic promise of enchantment.

The stories retold Tales Our Abuelitas Told or, in the Spanish version Cuentos que contaban nuestras abuelas, reflect the diversity of our culture: some developed in Latin America from Indigenous roots, others had their origin in Africa or in various regions of Spain and go back to the Hebrew, Arabic or Basque traditions.

Their settings may be Mexico or the Southwest, Puerto Rico, Cuba or the Amazon among many others. They all keep children spellbound. Stories like these enriched our childhood and left our ima ination for ever open to new discoveries, to the daring possibility of dreaming better worlds. Words like ¨happily ever after¨ got trans formed into lives in search of understanding and compassion, lives devoted to pro mote access and equality for all, social justice, and peace.

Listen to Vienna Rose read Tales Our Abuelitas Told to you. A marvelous example of the magical encounter between a child and books that we wish for all children. And here's the book's introduction read to you by Vienna Rose. And here's an earlier reading by Vienna Rose.

From Catalina the Fox : "Stop, you rascal!" shouted Catalina, the fox, as she saw MartÍn, the wolf, rushing out of her orchard. Once again he has been stealing her reddest apples, her sweetest pears, her freshest eggs, and her fattest hen -- all the while laughing as he escaped. "Someday that wolf is going to get it!" Catalina muttered to herself. Catalina was so angry that she decided to go for a walk to calm herself. As she walked along the road, she saw a man approachng on a horse-drawn cart. She remembered much too well having been shot at by a man on a similar cart the previous fall. Since there was nowhere to hide, she thought the best way to avoid the trouble was to pretend to be dead. So she laid down by the side of the road. "A dead fox!" cried out the man in the cart. "I can use that fur." The man climbed down from his cart, took the fox by the tail, and swung her up on top of the fish barrels that he was taking to market. This was not exactly what the fox had planned, but she remembered her grandmother's advice: "Look for the good that is hidden inside every bad situation." The only good thing she could see were the sardines in the fish barrels beneath her.

From The Little Horse of Seven Colors : "I am worried," said Don Ramón to his wife, Clotilde, and their three sons. "An animal has been eating our corn, but I cannot find any tracks going to or coming from the cobertizo. Diego, tonight you will kep watch to see what happens." That night Diego went to the cobertizo -- the adobe hut where they kept the corn -- but he quickly fell asleep. The next morning, realizing he had failed at his task and afraid of making his father mad, he dais, "I stayed up all night for nothing. Nobody came to the cobertizo." Adn yet more corn has disappeared. The following night Vincente, the second son, was assigned to keep watch. He tried to keep alert, but after a few hours he fell asleep too. In the morning he also reported that nothing had happened. But, again, corn was missing. On the third night Pedro, the youngest brother, went to the cobertizo for his turn. He was determined not to fall asleep. Diego and Vincente always teased him, saying that he had a rock instead of a head on his shoulders. Pedro wanted to prove to them that he was just as smart as they were.

School Library Journal : Grade 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.

Booklist : 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.

Children's Literature : A six-page introduction welcomes readers and offers historical background into the ways that folktales originated and intermingled in all cultures. The twelve Hispanic tales actually have roots in many ancient traditions. The conversational tone continues into the retelling of the selected tales ranging in length from three to seventeen pages (including at least one full-page illustration for each). A few of the tales will seem somewhat familiar. "Dear Deer! Said the Turtle" is reminiscent of "The Tortoise and the Hare." "The Castle of Chuchurumbe" has a rhythm similar to "The House That Jack Built." Catalina the Fox could be related to Brer Rabbit. Other tales bring fresh, new perspectives. Pedro saves his family's corn and, eventually, finds great happiness because he befriends a little horse of seven colors and follows its advice. A caliph and his son discover the source of true happiness in unexpected places. Research and explanatory notes follow each tale. Colorful illustrations capture the mood of the narrative, often contributing to understanding of the text and adding humor. The artists are given individual recognition in the table of contents. A listing of traditional folk tale beginnings is provided in both Spanish and English in the front of the book. A similar listing of endings appears in the back. The large-style format lends itself well to both individual reading and group sharing.

Simon Brooks : I have gone into the studio to begin recording what is most likely to be called “More Second-hand Tales.” I know, amazingly original, isn’t it? For those who saw me over this summer, you might remember me telling the story ‘The Goat from the Hills and Mountains.” This tale was new to me this year and I have fallen in love with it. It is based on an Hispanic tale I found in a marvelous book called TALES OUR ABUELITAS TOLD by F. Isabel Campoy and Alma Flor Ada, published by Atheneum. I could not find an original source for the story, or any other version of it, so I approached the authors for permission to continue telling the tale and also for permission to record it, on this soon-to-be-made second CD. After a few emails with both writers I have permission to continue to tell the story AND record my version of Alma Flor Ada's version of this story which appears in the book. The book is wonderful, and there are many other great stories in there. If you are looking for a holiday gift to give someone this coming winter season, be it Christmas, Chanukah, Quanza, or any other holiday, or birthday even, then look this book over. It is not a ‘dry’ folklore book, but a book filled with the life and vitality which makes Hispanic stories so wonderful. It is also illustrated in a style that captures the tales in a unique way that kids love. I know this as we have a copy of it at my library. Many thanks to Isabel and Alma for graciously allowing me to take this tale and put it on my second CD.

Amazon : 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.

Blog : Tales Our Abuelitas Told is a lovely collection of Hispanic folktales from many different cultures, written/retold by F. Isabel Campoy and Alma Flor Ada. Abuelitas is an endearment in Spanish for "grandmothers," and these tales, full of life lessons, are told with the loving care of our grandmothers.

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, Hebrew, and Spanish.

In the introduction to the book, the authors explain the history of Hispanic folklore, which I found fascinating. Twelve tales are retold and beautifully illustrated, each one ending with a brief explanation of the different versions of the story and the authors' connections to it. My favorite was "The Happy Man's Tunic," a story brought to Spain most likely by the Arabs. In the story, a caliph was too busy to spend time with his kind and loving son. When his son became ill, the caliph consulted many physicians. But when none of them could find the right cure, and he despaired, an old woman came to him and told him that all his son needed to get well was to wear the tunic of a man who is truly happy. The search was on, and a young shepherd was finally found who proved to be a truly happy man. The problem was...he didn't own a tunic! It's a fun story with an important message, but I won't give it away here.

The authors also included a fun list of traditional beginnings and endings to stories told in Spanish, side by side with their English-language equivalents:

Había una vez... Once upon a time...
En los tiempos e la abuela... In Grandmother's time...
Hace mucho tiempo... A long time ago...
...y colorín colorado, este cuento se ha acabado. ...and, my many-colored feathered friend, now the story has found an end.

It's exciting to find a book of folktales that is done so nicely. This is a lovely book, beautifully written and illustrated, and it would be a great addition to a family's collection of folktales, and a wonderful book to use as a teaching tool in school for any age group.

Latina Style : From Yesterday to Tomorrow : Stories Our Abuelitas Told

Traditional tales open our hearts to old voices and new worlds, to wondrous adventures and ever lasting feelings. Words like Había una vez or Érase que se era, hold for the listener or reader the magic promise of enchantment.

The stories retold in our recent book Tales Our Abuelitas Told or, in the Spanish version Cuentos que contaban nuestras abuelas, reflect the diversity of our culture: some developed in Latin America from Indigenous roots, others had their origin in Africa or in various regions of Spain and go back to the Hebrew, Arabic or Basque traditions.

Their settings may be Mexico or the Southwest, Puerto Rico, Cuba or the Amazon among many others. They all keep children spell-bound. Stories like these enriched our childhood and left our imagination forever open to new discoveries, to the daring possibility of dreaming better worlds. Words like ¨happily ever after¨ got transformed into lives in search of understanding and compassion, lives devoted to promote access and equality for all, social justice, and peace.

Because we have known the power of words, we have been using them to share with Latino children and youth the vastness of their rich heritage and to make others aware of this richness. Through the ample collection Gateways to the Sun, or in the Spanish version Puertas al sol we have invited them, through Poetry anthologies, to delight in the images and rhythm of our great poets. Through Theatre anthologies we give our readers the opportunity to explore their feelings and those of others. Biographies of great figures like Benito Juárez, José Martí or César Chávez, of creators like Frida Khalo, Gabriela Mistral or Luis Valdés give them inspiration to fulfill their own potentials. Books on the Art of our numerous artists of all times encourage them to find beauty in art, in nature and in their own hearts, and the books about Hispanic Lands in this collection depict for them not only the diversity of those lands and their amazing nature but particularly the contributions their people, beginning with the indigenous cultures, have made to the world.

Nursery rhymes are frequently the first introduction to poetry and the music hidden in language, an introduction whose joy can last a lifetime. During our frequent travels and public appearances we constantly receive the response of parents and teachers to the nursery treasures in the bilingual books Pio Peep, Mama Goose and our collection of books and accompanying CDs with 120 songs in the voice of Suni Paz, Música amiga. They tell us what a joy it is to reencounter the songs that made them laugh, sing and dance in their own childhood and to share it with their children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces, making sure these songs will continue to live on. And what greater joy for us than to meet children who know by heart our poems and delight in saying or singing them.
Recently, in Texas an educator told us that someone in the family ¨took away the nursery rhymes book¨ leaving everyone else ¨orphaned of memories¨ until she purchased six copies, one for each sister, to restore the vacuum left by the missing original.

As parents and grandparents ask us to autograph books, or expectant mothers wish us to create a message for their yet unborn children, we delight seeing that the interest on this culture and the commitment to create a bilingual foundation for their youth come both from Spanish-speaking and English-speaking families.

May the treasures we received continue living in the hearts of the new generations.

Twelve stories from varied roots of Hispanic culture come together in a colorful collection that includes talking ants, magic bagpipes, dancing goats, and flying horses. In some cases the tales emphasize a moral, such as looking for the good in any bad situation as in “Catlina the Fox.” In others, the story illustrates the importance of friends, as in the case of “The Bird of One Thousand Colors.” The authors seek to trace the origins of the stories through personal source notes, citing variants of the original story and the historical history behind the tales. Of note is a tale of Juan Bobo that is included in this collection. Juan Bobo has entertained children and adults for more than five centuries with his antics and absent-mindedness. While Juan Bobo is well known by many, “The Bird of One Thousand Colors” is a story that Alma Flor Ada was unable to trace to an original source, although she remembers being told the story by her grandmother. Throughout the collection, culturally accurate illustrations catch the eye with vivid colors and intricate details that convey aspect of the story. Each story leads naturally to the next, keeping alive the oral traditions of a rich culture that spans the continents. - Christine

Story Collection Green Books and CDs :