Details
Synopsis
A young Inca girl succeeds where her brothers and others have failed, when her bird friends help her find the special water that will cure the king's son., An Incan folktale about a girl name Miro who must rescue her foolish brothers from the royal dragon. In order to free her brothers, Miro must save a young prince from death by bringing him water to drink from a mysterious lake found only in one of the corners of the world. Colorful woodcut illustrations accompany the text.
| Size | | Height: | 11.5 in | | Width: | 9.3 in | | Thickness: | 0.5 in | | Weight: | 16.8 oz |
Industry Reviews
The poor but worthy hero who, after others have failed, cures a sick royal child with some special food or drink from a magic place appears in many folktales in many places. In this particularly satisfying Ecuadoran Inca variant, the hero is a girl who can talk with the birds and run as swiftly as her brothers. To heal an ailing prince, Miro's brothers, like so many men in the kingdom, attempt to fetch water from a lake at the pachap cuchun cuchun, one of the corners of the earth; failing, they are cast into a dungeon. Miro, however, succeeds in her quest. Enlisting the help of her bird friends, she finds the lake, and when she is tested there by huge monsters that rush at her, she stands her ground each time. Frampton's (Whaling Days) painted woodcuts maximize the drama of these scenes, as each monster looms across a two-page spread over the tiny figure of Miro. Throughout, Kurtz (Fire on the Mountain) deftly weaves in details of pre-Conquest Inca life, giving readers a glimpse of a vanished culture as well as a good story. An excellent choice for children ready to go beyond Western fairytale favorites. Ages 4-7. (Apr.)
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K-Gr 4 An Incan folktale about a peasant girl, Miro, whose ability to run swiftly and to understand the language of the birds enables her to find a magic lake, cure a king's ailing son, and free her imprisoned brothers. According to her note, Kurtz has expanded on the source tale, incorporating more details about life in the Incan Empire. She is a superb storyteller. The narrative is vivid and crisp, weaving in Incan words whose meanings are clear in context. The story never falters, and Miro is a strong, admirable heroine. Frampton's blocky, boldly patterned woodcuts capture the spirit and exuberance of the story and reflect an understanding of the period. The illustrations are clear enough to be seen by a group, and the layout is appealing, with heavy black type and excellent use of white space and contrast. An unusual and outstanding offering. Donna L. Scanlon, Lancaster County Library, PA
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