Bibliography
Philip, Neil. 2003. Horse Hooves and Chicken Feet: Mexican Folktales. Ill. By Jacqueline Mair. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 061819463-0
Plot Summary
Neil Philip has selected a unique collection of 14 Mexican folktales, which highlight the rich storytelling tradition of Mexico’s culture. Different types of tales are included such as fairy tales, realistic tales and trickster tales. Religious themes are prevalent in the stories in keeping with the Mexican culture. You meet characters such as The Virgin Mary, The Devil, and Saint Peter. In addition, readers meet other characters such as witches, animals, and ordinary folk who have magical experiences. The stories entertain and teach life lessons to all who read them.
Critical Analysis
The author does an excellent job in providing readers with background information on the stories in the collection. The stories, collected from individuals in Mexico, Colorado and New Mexico reveal the rich culture of the people who tell them. Philip provides a table of contents and source notes at the end of the book. These notes assist readers in locating original sources for the tales, and variations of the story and theme. The stories vary in length from 1-7 pages in length and are perfect for reading aloud.
Philip presents stories that might not be well know to readers that are not from the Hispanic culture however, several of these stories can be compared to other well-known folktales. For example, Cinder Juan is a variant of the well-known Cinderella folktale told in many cultures. Cinder Juan provides the standard storyline: the parents have died, there are wicked family members that seek to do harm and a character who acts as a fairy godmother who helps him. However, as much as you can compare Cinder Juan to Cinderella, the cultural influence of the Roman Catholic religion changes the story and makes it unique. Each tale in this collection focuses on a lesson learned or good triumphing over evil. One example is the story from which the title of this book was taken- Horse Hooves and Chicken Feet. In this story, a young man and his friends who are on their way home from a fiesta are drawn to a party in a place they had not been before. The young men are mesmerized by the beautiful women; and started to dance with them. Before long, one of them realized that although women were beautiful, they had scaly chicken feet. They were dancing with witches! They are able to leave the dance before they came to harm. I can see that parents might tell this tale to their children in order to reinforce to them that going to a stranger’s home is dangerous.
Jacqueline Mair’s illustrations are vibrantly done in acrylics on paper. Each story is illustrated in traditional Mexican folkart style. These illustrations often have pictures within a picture that represent various parts of the story. Throughout the book, religious icons are found as well as skeletons, cala lilies, and the third eye- all frequently found in Mexican folk art.
Neil Philip and Jacqueline Mair have provided a beautiful book for children and adults to share and discuss.
Review Excerpts
School Library Journal:Grade 3-7- this richly varied collection presents the unique blend of folkloric elements and Catholicism that defines Mexican folklore. In an informative introduction, Philip delineates the distinctive flavor of Mexican tales, their blend of religion and humor, and the particular pointed bite of many of the stories.
Booklist:Gr. 4-8.Philip brings together a useful and attractively presented selection of 14 folktales from Mexico and people of Mexican decent from the American Southwest. The stories are simply yet effectively retold, usually in five or six pages, with many reflecting the strong influence of the Catholic Church on Mexican culture. Adding considerably to the overall appeal of the book are Mair's exuberant illustrations, accomplished in the style of Mexican folk art. Usually, one illustration comprising several images accompanies each story, each image mirroring some action, often in a way that is original and unexpected.
Connections
Aesop Prize Winner 2003
This book is a great book to share when learning about the Mexican culture and art. Perfect for a short read aloud or even sharing over the school announcements during Hispanic Heritage Month-September 15-October 15.
Author Website: http://www.neilphilip.com/Neil%20Philip.html
Illustrator Website: http://www.jacquelinemair.co.uk/index.htm
More about teaching Mexican folktales can be found at this website:
http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/1913
Philip, Neil. 2003. Horse Hooves and Chicken Feet: Mexican Folktales. Ill. By Jacqueline Mair. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 061819463-0
Plot Summary
Neil Philip has selected a unique collection of 14 Mexican folktales, which highlight the rich storytelling tradition of Mexico’s culture. Different types of tales are included such as fairy tales, realistic tales and trickster tales. Religious themes are prevalent in the stories in keeping with the Mexican culture. You meet characters such as The Virgin Mary, The Devil, and Saint Peter. In addition, readers meet other characters such as witches, animals, and ordinary folk who have magical experiences. The stories entertain and teach life lessons to all who read them.
Critical Analysis
The author does an excellent job in providing readers with background information on the stories in the collection. The stories, collected from individuals in Mexico, Colorado and New Mexico reveal the rich culture of the people who tell them. Philip provides a table of contents and source notes at the end of the book. These notes assist readers in locating original sources for the tales, and variations of the story and theme. The stories vary in length from 1-7 pages in length and are perfect for reading aloud.
Philip presents stories that might not be well know to readers that are not from the Hispanic culture however, several of these stories can be compared to other well-known folktales. For example, Cinder Juan is a variant of the well-known Cinderella folktale told in many cultures. Cinder Juan provides the standard storyline: the parents have died, there are wicked family members that seek to do harm and a character who acts as a fairy godmother who helps him. However, as much as you can compare Cinder Juan to Cinderella, the cultural influence of the Roman Catholic religion changes the story and makes it unique. Each tale in this collection focuses on a lesson learned or good triumphing over evil. One example is the story from which the title of this book was taken- Horse Hooves and Chicken Feet. In this story, a young man and his friends who are on their way home from a fiesta are drawn to a party in a place they had not been before. The young men are mesmerized by the beautiful women; and started to dance with them. Before long, one of them realized that although women were beautiful, they had scaly chicken feet. They were dancing with witches! They are able to leave the dance before they came to harm. I can see that parents might tell this tale to their children in order to reinforce to them that going to a stranger’s home is dangerous.
Jacqueline Mair’s illustrations are vibrantly done in acrylics on paper. Each story is illustrated in traditional Mexican folkart style. These illustrations often have pictures within a picture that represent various parts of the story. Throughout the book, religious icons are found as well as skeletons, cala lilies, and the third eye- all frequently found in Mexican folk art.
Neil Philip and Jacqueline Mair have provided a beautiful book for children and adults to share and discuss.
Review Excerpts
School Library Journal:Grade 3-7- this richly varied collection presents the unique blend of folkloric elements and Catholicism that defines Mexican folklore. In an informative introduction, Philip delineates the distinctive flavor of Mexican tales, their blend of religion and humor, and the particular pointed bite of many of the stories.
Booklist:Gr. 4-8.Philip brings together a useful and attractively presented selection of 14 folktales from Mexico and people of Mexican decent from the American Southwest. The stories are simply yet effectively retold, usually in five or six pages, with many reflecting the strong influence of the Catholic Church on Mexican culture. Adding considerably to the overall appeal of the book are Mair's exuberant illustrations, accomplished in the style of Mexican folk art. Usually, one illustration comprising several images accompanies each story, each image mirroring some action, often in a way that is original and unexpected.
Connections
Aesop Prize Winner 2003
This book is a great book to share when learning about the Mexican culture and art. Perfect for a short read aloud or even sharing over the school announcements during Hispanic Heritage Month-September 15-October 15.
Author Website: http://www.neilphilip.com/Neil%20Philip.html
Illustrator Website: http://www.jacquelinemair.co.uk/index.htm
More about teaching Mexican folktales can be found at this website:
http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/1913
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