LS 5903 MULTICULTURAL LITERATURE

Kathleen Richardson Shelnutt
LS 5903, Multicultural Literature
Dr. Sylvia M. Vardell
Summer 2007

Review of THE HONEY POT

A. Menchu, Rigoberta and Dante Liano. Illustrated by Domi. 2006. THE HONEY POT.
Toronto: Groundwood Books, House of Anansi Press. ISBN 0888996705, 9780888996701

B. PLOT SUMMARY
Renowned author, Maya activist, and Pulitzer Prize Winner, Rigoberta Menchu
takes us back to her beginnings and birthplace of Chimel Guatemala. She shares
with us her warm relationship with her grandparents and her interaction among the
children of the village. Menchu then relates ten of the tales her grandparents
often told her by presenting them in short story format. While powerfully
written, being read aloud adds much to the tales that came from centuries old
oral tradition. Menchu becomes animated when she tells of the holidays and
festivals that shaped the daily life of she and her neighbors. There are tales
of the sun and the moon where villagers taught the children as they had been
taught that the moon was the Grandmother and the Sun was the Grandfather of the
Universe. These legendary Guatemalan celestial beings were thought to have
created the Mother, which is the heart of the Earth and the Father who is the
Father of heaven. There is a hilarious reversal of the question of creationism
in the Maya culture that monkeys are descended from humans. The tales all flow
with everyday language that becomes majestic because of the old legends and
myths and the way Menchu and Liano present the tales. Extremely well written
one is quickly taken in and transported to a far away place to hear about Howler
monkeys, tales of hunting, farming, weasels and corn.

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
These enchanted stories will appeal and be easily read by most 2nd through 5th
graders. The book is lush and beautiful and all associated with the work have
gone to much trouble to make it so. The illustrations, all in deep, vivid oils
are complimentary of the text but both story and traditional art are of such
high caliber they could stand alone on their own merit. The art is very
reminescent of Clive Barker's oil paintings in the Abarat books which took him
almost a decade to illustrate.

I found the similarities in beliefs between the people of Guatemala and many
modern day Earth religions fascinating. A parallel practice is calling the
four corners of the universe, Earth, Sun, Sky, and Water. The reverence towards
the earth, in fact the whole universe and the belief that everything has a spirit
reminds me of Native American belief systems, customs, and practices.

The book is a must read for students and teachers studying the Maya or Central
America. One of the most visually appealing books for juveniles that I have read
this year! Again, the birds and animals are realistic, the vessels for food and
drink are realistically portrayed adding credibility to this fine piece of
multicultural literature.

The stories and paintings are certainly faithful to the traditions of the
society because they have been created by one of their own. Hazel Rochman
tells us in her essay, "Beyond Political Correctness" that with enthralling
stories we can come to imagine the lives of others which breaks down barriers
and ends thinking of anothers culture in stereotypical fashion. (As published
in STORIES MATTER: THE COMPLEXITY OF CULTURAL AUTHENTICITY IN CHILDREN'S
LITERATURE (page 103) The brown skin of the people in the illustrations of oil
are true to life and the warm, depictions of the lush green landscape, and
traditional clothing are true to life and were done with great care to portray
an authentic setting and characters for the folklore vignettes.

D. REVIEW EXCERPTS
"Universal in appeal, this collection of 12 Mayan tales would be a significant
addition to any library's holdings. The anthology includes creation myths,
animal tales, and twin tales as well as stories that explain natural phenomena
such as rainbows." -- School Library Journal.

Carolyn Phelan writing for the ALA publication, Booklist states: "...selections
that reflect a distinctive worldview, a broad awareness of nature...Using vivid
colors, the naturalistic, folk-art oil paintings illustrate the stories in a
manner that reflects the simple spirit and directness of the tellings. An
expressive collection that lends insight into the Mayan culture."

E. CONNECTIONS
Other children's books that tell stories of Guatemala

Menchu, Roberta and Dante Liano. THE GIRL FROM CHIMEL, 0888996667, 9780888996664
Aboff, Marcie. GUATEMALA ABCs: A BOOK ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND PLACES OF
GUATEMALA. 1404815708, 9781404815704
Castaneda, Omar. ABUELA'S WEAVE. 1880000202, 9781880000205