The Chocolate Tree: A Mayan Folktale (On My Own Folklore)
Grade 2–5—These folktales are separated into sections, giving them the appearance of early chapter books. The large-print texts, accompanied by bright watercolor illustrations, reflect the culture from which they originated while remaining straightforward and concise, keeping emerging readers in mind. In the first book, Tsukahara Bokuden, a nobleman, bests a warrior who tries to get on a ferry before everyone else and then demands another man's seat. The afterword explains that the protagonist was a real person. The second book explains how King Kukulkán gave his people the gift of chocolate in spite of making the other gods angry. Although not as carefully illustrated as picture-book folktales, and not outstanding as read-alouds, these books are useful choices for beginning readers.—Sarah O'Holla, Village Community School, New York CityCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.