cover image El Kan Kanay

El Kan Kanay

Maria Eugenia Blanco Palacios. Ediciones Castillo, $6.95 (93pp) ISBN 978-970-20-0171-3

Gr 2-4-In this collection of three Mayan folktales adapted for young audiences, readers are taught to ""be careful with what you wish for...."" In the introduction, the author explains that his grandfather's library included an old book given to him by a Mayan storyteller, which was the source of these tales. In the first selection, Kumb is a young boy who receives a magic pot that multiplies whatever is placed within it a hundredfold. He quickly learns to use the pot to enhance his own wealth, but his greed gets him into trouble with the townspeople and Kumb learns that he must share his good fortune. In the next story, Ixchel, a dreamer, is granted the ability to transform herself into whatever she wishes. After experiencing life and danger as several different animals and people, she realizes that she is better off as herself. In the final tale, Akin wishes he had the power to make everybody in his village happy in order to please the god Chac and get rain for the village. Alux, a wise man, grants his wish by endowing him with the power to make people laugh. Akin succeeds so well that Chac takes him back with him to the world of the gods forever. The stories are accompanied by appealing cartoon illustrations featuring people dressed in traditional Mayan clothing. An important acquisition for any collection or bookstore serving a Central American population.Maria Otero-Boisvert, ""Criticas""