The Honey Jar

by Dante Liano and Rigoberta Menchú

Book Overview

The Honey Jar retells the ancient stories Rigoberta Mench 's grandparents told her when she was a little girl, and we can imagine her listening to them by the fire at night. These Mayan tales include natural phenomena narratives and animal stories. The underworld, the sky, the sun and moon, plants, people, animals, gods, and demigods are all players in these vibrant stories. Enchanting images by Domi draw on the Mayan landscape and the rich...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0888996705
• ISBN13: 9780888996701
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: Groundwood Books
• Length: 56 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.6" x 9.7"
• Age Range: 10 to 13 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 8

Customer Reviews

Absolutely delightful

This is an absolutely delightful collection of short stories with beautiful illustrations. Many of the stories are related to ancient ones depicted in the Popol Vuh, the Mayan creation text. Most definitely one of the most imaginative books I've seen, as the stories have beautifully written details that provoke vivid images. They are also the perfect pace for reading aloud. Topics include respect for the elders, the creation of the stars in the sky and the animals and plants on the earth, the origins of the howler monkey, among others. The few interspersed Maya-K'iche' words (complete with a glossary in the back) will also expose your child to linguistic diversity.

An entertaining collection of short stories & encouraging tales drawn from the author's childhood

Written by Noble Peace Prize winner and Mayan activist Rigoberta Menchu with the assistance Dante Liano and enhanced with full color artwork by Domi, The Honey Jar is an entertaining collection of short stories and encouraging tales drawn from the author's childhood growing up in a Mayan culture. These are tales and stories her grandparents told during her childhood, collected under one cover and offering a new generation of children a special insights into a Native American culture's captivating and imaginative folklore offering explanations of certain natural phenomena, magical twins, the sky, the sun and the moon, animals, plants, and the gods. Especially suitable for school and community library Folklore/Mythology collections for children, The Honey Jar is a very highly recommended read as a high interest for any young reader for its entertaining, imaginative, and vibrant tales, fables, and mysteries.