The Honey Jar

This is an absolutely delightful collection of short stories with beautiful illustrations. Many of the stories are related to ancient ones depicted in the Popol Vuh, the Mayan creation text. Most definitely one of the most imaginative books I've seen, as the stories have beautifully written details that provoke vivid images. They are also the perfect pace for reading aloud. Topics include respect for the elders, the creation of the stars in the sky and the animals and plants on the earth, the origins of the howler monkey, among others. The few interspersed Maya-K'iche' words (complete with a glossary in the back) will also expose your child to linguistic diversity.

Written by Noble Peace Prize winner and Mayan activist Rigoberta Menchu with the assistance Dante Liano and enhanced with full color artwork by Domi, The Honey Jar is an entertaining collection of short stories and encouraging tales drawn from the author's childhood growing up in a Mayan culture. These are tales and stories her grandparents told during her childhood, collected under one cover and offering a new generation of children a special insights into a Native American culture's captivating and imaginative folklore offering explanations of certain natural phenomena, magical twins, the sky, the sun and the moon, animals, plants, and the gods. Especially suitable for school and community library Folklore/Mythology collections for children, The Honey Jar is a very highly recommended read as a high interest for any young reader for its entertaining, imaginative, and vibrant tales, fables, and mysteries.