Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (The Sea-Ringed World) through Raincoast Books.
Have you ever taken the time to ponder the stories of those who were here before our ancestors came here? In The Sea-Ringed World we get to read 56 stories of the original inhabitants of the Americas. Stories from the Hopi, Maya, Andean. Sioux and many others. As we read their stories, native inspired art dot the pages.
The Basic Details
232 pages filled with the original history of the Americas. Stories that Maria Garcia Esperon helps to bring to life and awareness. The artwork is done by Amanda Mijangos while David Bowles translates into English. These stories focus on the Native America peoples of the Lower United States, Mexico, and Central and South Americas. I am reviewing this book of the sacred stories of the Americas for Raincoast books. These stories are geared to youth 8 – 14 years.
You’ll find 56 stories contained with in the pages of this hardcover book from Levine Querido publishing. Each story is four pages long. The stories come to us by way of the Hope, Mexica, Muisca, Andean, Guarani, Taino, Maya, Nahua, Mapuche, Blackfoot, and Ona peoples among others.
Artwork is scattered throughout it’s pages, all are in the blue/black/white motif. Some feature plants (I think), others animals, and the rest a variety of scenes. The artwork (to me) didn’t seem to be connected to the stories.
Each story in The Sea-ringed World is predicated by poetry? Moral? Not sure what to call it. These words do call you to pay attention to the main character or thought of the story that follows.
Should you get it?
I know this isn’t the intent of the author, but one of the things I find interesting when I read the ancient stories of another people is how a kernel of God’s truth can be found within. So when I read of a people became so evil that their god reigned down destruction upon them… I think of the God of the bible and the ark. When I read of how all was good in the world… and then a trickster came along who wrecked havoc, and I think of God, the garden of Eden and how Satan tricked the woman. Even when the language isn’t the same kernels of truth can be seen, and it always surprises me.
But that aside, it is interesting and helpful to get to know the stories of the people around you. Knowing a person’s stories, and knowing a person’s past, helps you to gain insight in their now. And that’s how you help to build a community. The stories were varied and came from different sources which helped give glimpses into different original American cultures.
These stories would be fun to use in a wide-variety of situations. Discernment and truth-seeking classes with middle through highschool students. Bedtime stories with elementary students. Supplement to learning about Native Americans. An addition to geography and history classes. Learning about peoples of the world. And I’m sure there are more situations that I haven’t even thought of. 🙂
This looks like it would be a very interesting addition to classes that deal with the native peoples. It looks really good. I have always enjoyed reading the stories of native people and their understanding of things. It can be quite eye opening.
i found it very well done and definitely worth adding to a study on Native Americans.