Lo Que Cuentan los Incas = Tales of the Incas

Gr 4-6-This book offers a great compilation of Incan myths and folktales recounted in very accessible language. The stories are well plotted and filled with interesting characters. The stories cover the spectrum, from universal themes such as the great flood to very original Incan mythologies. Readers learn about the Incan names for the underworld (Ukhu Pacha) and the heavens (Hanaq Pacha), why mankind has to toil so hard for his survival, the creation of the universe and how the world's life-sustaining vegetation originated, why the Incan people eat little bundles of cornmeal (Humit'as) on certain holidays, and the fascinating mythology behind the birds that inhabit the desolate islands off the coast of Peru. Many colorful characters of Incan legend serve as protagonists for these stories, such as Inca Yupanqui, Manco Capac, Wallallo, Aucayoc, and Kon. The two appendixes offer interesting background information on pre-Incan history, the Inca Empire, religion, science and technology, and more. The bibliography is substantial and would support further research. Recommended for classroom use and school libraries as well as bookstores with an interest in South American ethnology. MOB