La Gran Canoa

Gr 2-4-The universal tale of the great flood and the ark is retold in this Native American myth. The Karina Indians, readers are informed in an appended essay, made up a great nation that occupied the eastern region of Venezuela, from the Orinoco to the coast extending to some Caribbean islands. They were navigators, traders, and warriors. Here the deity Kaputano comes to earth to warn his children of the coming flood. The few that believe him build a great canoe and fill it with animals and seeds and invite the people of the tribe to join them. Although many do, many others choose not to and perish in the roiling waters. After the waters recede, Kaputano asks the Karinas what kind of world they wish to live in. In their wisdom, they request rivers and mountains to provide them with food and water and trees for shelter. The dramatic illustrations, using a technique called sgrafitto resulting in an inky black background etched with colorful line drawings, are engrossing and carry many cultural details. Highly recommended for libraries and bookstores serving Venezuelan populations or interested in creation myths. MOB