The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas

by María García Esperón Narrated by David Bowles

Overview

Fifteen thousand years before Europeans stepped foot in the Americas, people had already spread from tip to tip and coast to coast. Like all humans, these Native Americans sought to understand their place in the universe, the nature of their relationship with the divine, and the origin of the world into which their ancestors had emerged. The answers lay in their sacred stories. This collection of those stories-from nations and cultures across two continents, what the Aztecs called the Sea-Ringed World, from the edge of Argentina all the way up to Alaska-is a treasure. The Em Querido list seeks to introduce the finest books in translation from around the world to an American audience. We feel lucky to be bringing you this book on our inaugural list, which we hope will be a true window and mirror.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

[STAR] “Visually striking...full of vivid language.” -Publishers Weekly (starred),


“Evocative and stirring...mesmerizing to read aloud.”-The Wall Street Journal,


“Hypnotizing...Provocative...Disarming” -New York Times,


[STAR] “The language sparkles and the tales beg to be read aloud.” -School Library Connection (starred),


[STAR] "Spellbinding....Begs to be read aloud.” -Kirkus (starred),


[STAR] “Impressive, handsome, and universally appealing.” -Horn Book (starred),


[STAR] “A rich anthology to understand and delight in Native traditions.” -Booklist (starred),


[STAR] “Breathtaking and simply beautiful.” -School Library Journal (starred),


“David Bowles’ graceful translation renders this volume an excellent addition to any storytelling collection.” -The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books,


“Visually arresting, captivating collection of traditional stories.” -Shelf-Awareness,


“With its one-of-a-kind art to accompany each tale, it is a collection that will appeal to children, but also to any lover and collector of books." -BookRiot,


"In this Mexican import, Esperón retells sacred stories from 18 Native cultures. Complemented by stylized artwork that combines Native motifs with looser, modern lines, the short stories reflect a wonder and understanding of the natural world and the human spirit."" - Booklist

School Library Journal

★ 05/01/2021

Gr 5 Up—This text features sacred stories that have been passed down within and by Indigenous cultures of the Americas for thousands of years. Each of these mesmerizing stories pulls readers in, leaving them wishing they could remain within these worlds much longer. Tales provide lessons humans should heed and stories about how things came to be, such as the stars, the sun, and the moon. Some stories, such as "Hummingbird" from the Guarani tradition, tell of tragedies and love; others, such as "Kukulkan" from the Yucatec and K'iche' tradition and "Land of Fire" from the Selk'nam tradition tell of how some things came to be and about the gods' interactions with one another. Stories pass on messages of hope and resilience, but also provide events filled with sadness and tragedy. The vibrant blue, black, and white palette used in the illustrations brings events from the stories beautifully to life. A pronunciation guide, "Quick Guide to Cultures" featured in the text, map, and glossary add to the richness of this title. VERDICT Highly recommended for readers young and old, this work is breathtaking and simply beautiful.—Selenia Paz, Harris County P.L., Houston

APRIL 2021 - AudioFile

With aplomb, translator and narrator David Bowles delivers a wide-ranging collection of traditional tales from Native cultures across the Americas. Speaking in American-accented English, Bowles manages to be expressive and serious without veering into hokeyness; his unobtrusive approach gives primacy to the stories themselves. Packed with gods and humans, creation and transformation, the stories all begin with a few lines of verse, which aids in transitioning from one brief tale to the next. Some listeners may prefer to take in only a few tracks at a time so that they're not overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of characters and cultures depicted. Regardless of how listeners choose to experience it, this accessible audio anthology is both important and entertaining. R.A.H. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940177074412
Publisher:	Dreamscape Media
Publication date:	03/01/2021
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

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