LIS 721: Lizzy's Reading Responses Blog!: Reading Response Week 5

Hello again, Professor Huggins and classmates! It's Lizzy Prain! For this week’s assignment, I post my reading responses for Week 5, in which we review traditional literature, otherwise known as recorded fairytales, folklore, myths and legends in print which had previously been passed down through oral storytelling. Let’s begin, shall we?

Campoy, F. Isabel, et al. Tales Our Abuelitas Told: A Hispanic Folktale Collection.

Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2006.

ISBN 978-0-689-82583-5

For my first selection from the syllabus reading list, I chose a fascinating, informative and heartwarming book, Tales Our Abuelitas Told: A Hispanic Folktale Collection by F. Isabel Campoy and Alma Flor Ada, illustrated by Felipe Davalos, Vivi Escriva, Susan Guevara, and Leyla Torres, published in 2006 through Atheneum Books for Young Readers. Campoy and Ada’s book is a collection of twelve folktales of Hispanic cultural origin, primarily from Spain, but also incorporating influences in its stories and histories from other nations and continents, across European, African, Arabian, Jewish, indigenous American cultures as well. The collection includes “Welcome” and “About” pages after each folktale, in which the co-authors provide perspective, historical context, and cultural background to each of the chosen stories, in addition to providing readers with Spanish translations. Within the welcome chapter, it is stated that “The stories in this book form a mosaic of different shapes, colors, and designs” (Campoy and Ada, pg. 1). A fitting description as the collection is composed of stories from not a singular source, but a wide variety in a rich tapestry that reflects the diversity of Hispanic heritage, cultures and individual experiences.

I found that the purpose of the collection by the co-authors was intended to be the sharing of their favorite stories told to them by their abuelitas when they were children with new generations. Their audience intended to be young children, working as an introduction to different variations in Hispanic folklore and history, but I see no reason why the collection cannot be enjoyed by older readers in addition, especially those looking to be educated about traditional Hispanic folklore and its roots in a historical context. The co-authors provide both enthralling entertainment in their narration as different forms of traditional folklore such as fairytales, pourquoi and beast stories, interweaved throughout the collection, alongside stunning, colorful illustrations in warm colors and vibrant tones in each story which frame a key element of the folklore and its respective in question. In the chapter “About” sections at the end of each story, the authors provide readers with context for the stories’ sources, their meaning in the framework of Hispanic heritage and the context in different cultural histories, in addition to highlighting the different variations in the stories and which countries certain folklore are more popular than others. In terms of the book’s style of narration, the authors captured the experience of oral storytelling through their text, sprinkling humor and a genuine sense of love for the memories of their abuelitas’ stories throughout the collection. Whereas each story can be read individually and are not necessarily connected as sequels in a series would be, they still connect to portraying the diversity of Hispanic cultures and communities around the world, with the intention of helping readers gain an appreciation for cultural influences, historical framework and variety of individuals whose voices and experiences have shaped the variations of folklore adapted for Compoy and Ada’s collection from their childhoods listening to their abuelitias’ stories.

Hamilton, Virginia, et al.

The People Who Could Fly: American Black Folktales.

Alfred A. Knopf, an Imprint of Random House, Inc, 1985.

ISBN 9878-0-394-86925-4

For my second selection this week, I have chosen The People Who Could Fly: American Black Folktales, told by Virginia Hamilton, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillton, published in 1985 through the Random House, Inc. The purpose of The People Who Could Fly as a collection of twenty-four stories is described within Hamilton’s introductory section of the book as a preservation in printed word of the oral folklore which were passed down from Black slaves throughout generations, preserving their experiences and history through storytelling. Within the collection, the author gives historical context and stresses the cultural significant of the stories as they were crafted based on the environments and experiences of the African American people who faced cruel oppression through the history of our nation, the stories not being only tales for entertainment, but historical records which reflect the hopes, sorrows, angry and creativity of countless individuals. These stories within the collection are as much a celebration of the African American people, their creative voices, expression of self, strength and triumphs in the face of sheer oppression and cruelty as much the stories are reminder of the unfathomable cruelties within North American history. As author Hamilton describes within her introduction “These tales were created out of sorrow. But the hearts and minds of the black people who formed them, and passed them on to us were full of love and hope. We must look on the tales as a celebration of the human spirit” (Hamilton, pg. xii).

Within the collection, Hamilton provides both a bibliography at the end of her text, filled with sources to other books and alternative variations of the stories she has shared throughout the pages. Additionally, Hamiliton provides origins for the folklore, alongside historical education and cultural context at end of each story. The author goes further by organizing the different folklore into four main sections, each based on a different aspect of black history and storytelling, as well as preserved style of narrative in her writing, utilizing a colloquial language or dialect, depending on the context of a given story as she unveils to the readers the framework of each folklore. Throughout the collection, beautiful illustrations created by the Dillons provide not only companion elements to the text, but convey a wide range of emotions, fear, joy, sorrow and wonder throughout the pages in striking black, white and gray imagery depicting the diversity in stories and experiences of the African American people. Hamilton’s collection can read and enjoyed by child and adult readers alike. Although the historical significance may go over the heads of the younger readers, and adult readers may enjoy the collection more due to understanding of the societal framework, I feel the hope, strength and creativity of the African American people in history expressed within the pages can enthrall readers across all age groups.