This folk tale tells the story of why the people of Argentina believe that the shade of a carob tree brings good luck. Laan's knowledge of the Indian culture in Argentina was expressed through her Quechuan vocabulary. For example, she would use words such as pampas, which is a Quechuan word for "fields without trees." She also referred to the "Mother of Storms" and "Great Bird of the Underworld." I enjoyed the flow of the book as well as the rhymes. I was able to get a better understanding of the Argentinian culture through this reading. It also sent a message of bravery as a young boy risked his life to find water for his people. ( )

A young boy named Topec goes on a search to find the rain. His home is now dry and the sun is the only gift from the Life Giver. Everyone warned him it was dangerous, but he went on his way in search for rain. He feel a sleep one night and awoke under a big tree full of life. He asked the tree where the rain was and it responded that the Great Bird was blocking the wind and rain and they could not see his people because of it. Topec gathered his people and they went to kill the Great Bird. Instead of killing it, Topec and the rest of the pampas scared the bird off and the rain came pouring down.

This book was very short. It did not go into much detail of the legend and I'm sure the real legend is much longer. It was a good book either way. I really liked the style of drawing the illustrator used. It was amazing color pencil work.

I would use this book in my classroom to teach about different tales and legends from around the world. ( )

This folktale from the Quechua people of Argentina tells of a time "long ago," when a summer with no rain threatened the very survival of life on the pampas, and Pachamama (Mother Earth) seemed deaf to the people's cries. It fell to a young boy named Topec - who, alone amongst his people, still had faith in Pachamama, and in Pampero (the South Wind), the Mother of Storms (the rain-bringer), and the Life Giver (the Sun) - to find the rain and bring it back. Questioning the river, the North Wind, and the Carob Tree, Topec eventually learns the truth: the gods and goddesses have been prevented from seeing that the pampas need rain by the outspread wings of the Great Bird of the Underworld. Aided by his people, and by the animals, Topec succeeds in driving away the Great Bird, when he alights on the magical Carob Tree to sleep...

This fascinating story offers an all-too brief glimpse into a folk tradition that I would like to explore more fully! I keep hoping I will happen on more Latin American folklore in general, and Argentine folklore (whether from the indigenous peoples, or the European settlers) in particular. It's really a shame that so little seems to be available in English! In any case, this engaging story is most welcome, and is greatly enhanced by the artwork of Beatriz Vidal, whose illustrations have also graced such titles as Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain: A Nandi Tale and A Gift of Gracias: The Legend of Altagracia. I enjoyed the artwork (as always) and appreciated the fact that author Nancy van Laan included a list of sources (none of them an anthology of tales, alas). Recommended to young folklore enthusiasts - particularly those who enjoy arboreal tales - and to fans of the artist! ( )

This legend in the middle of Argentina is still told today. There was a magic tree that changed the lives of these people in Argentina. But there was a bird that stopped the rain which stopped plants from growing and water for the people to drink. ( )

This is a interesting look into Argentina folk tales, not something that most people know about. It sounds very similar to some of our Native American stories.