Synopsis
"The Firsttortilla" is a moving, bilingual story of courage and discovery. A small Mexican village is near starvation. There is no rain, and the bean and squash plants are dying. Jade, a young village girl, is told by a blue hummingbird to take a gift to the Mountain Spirit. Then it will send the needed rain. Burning lava threatens her, but Jade reaches the top of the volcano. The Mountain Spirit is pleased. It allows the ants in a nearby cave to share their corn with Jade. The corn was sweet and delicious and Jade took some back to save the village. Jade grinds the dry corn, adds water, and makes dough. She pats the masa and places it on hot stones near the fire. She has made the first tortilla. Soon the making of corn tortillas spreads throughout Mexico and beyond.
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About the Author
World-renowned Rudolfo Anaya is professor emeritus of English at the University of New Mexico and is the author of The Santero's Miracle and Curse of the ChupaCabra, both books for children and young readers and published by UNM Press. Amy Cordova has illustrated many children's stories, including Anaya's The Santero's Miracle. Enrique R. Lamadrid, professor of Spanish folklore and literature at the University of New Mexico, was awarded the Americo Paredes Prize in recognition of his work as a cultural activist.
From the Inside Flap
"Anaya has retold a Mexican legend and made it his own with his spiritual prose. . .A beautifully written and illustrated title."--School Library Journal
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