About the Book:
When young Tunuri becomes separated from his family
during their pilgrimage to the sacred mountain
of the Huichol people, he is not left alone, for
an enchanted Blue Deer guides him to meet his
other family: Father Sun, Brother Wind, Sister
Water, Mother Earth, and Grandfather Fire (who
lives in all the stars in the sky). Tunuri is
then reunited with his human family and instructed
to share with them, and with his people, all that
he has learned about their relationship with the
world of nature. Endredy relates this traditional
tale of Mexico's Huichol Indians in clear, graceful
prose that succeeds in communicating the message
(as summarized in the closing author's note),
that "Despite all our differences in lifestyle,
we all share the same Sun, Earth, Air and Water,
which means we are all connected in this sacred
web of life." But it is the stunning yarn
drawings by two Huichol artists that are the heart
of this amazingly beautiful book, each one produced
in a laborious, meticulous technique of pressing
brightly colored yarn onto a board spread with
beeswax. Holding the book in one's hands is like
visiting a museum storing treasure after treasure
of Huichol artistry: each picture is a joyful,
vibrant feast for the eyes. This is a wonderful
collaborative celebration of a threatened culture.
- Children's Literature - Claudia Mills
"...highly
recommended addition to school and community library
Native American collections for young readers."
- Mid West Book Review
"...a strong addition
to folktale collections - School Library Journal
"...an excellent introduction
to a contemporary indigenous culture - American
Library Association (Booklist)
Casimiro, Maria,
and James
Click
here to see the making of the illustrations for
the book
View
the School Program for the book!
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