Table of Contents

Stories marked with an * are translated into Spanish.
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
History of Mexico
Mexican Folk Arts
The Stories in This Book
A Guide to the Pronunciation of Aztec and Mayan Names
Color Plates appear after
Essential Legends
Background About The Eagle on the Cactus
The Eagle on the Cactus
Background About Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe)
*Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe)
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Background About La Llorona (The Weeping Woman)
La Llorona (The Weeping Woman)
Background About La Flor de la Noche Buena (The Legend of the Poinsettia)
La Flor de la Noche Buena (The Legend of the Poinsettia)
Background About La China Poblana
*La China Poblana
La China Poblana
Background About The Legend of the Two Volcanoes
*The Legend of the Two Volcanoes
La leyenda de los dos volcanes
Creation Stories from Indigenous Mexico
Background About The Five Suns
*The Creation of the World: An Aztec Myth
Los cinco soles (La creatión del mundo): Un mito azteca
The Flowing Waters (The Creation of the Earth): An Aztec Myth
Into the Fire (The Creation of the Sun and the Moon): An Aztec Myth
The Trail of Stars (How the Milky Way Came To Be): An Aztec Myth
The Broken Bones (The Creation of People): An Aztec Myth
*Food from the Gods (How Maize Came to the People): An Aztec Myth
Alimento de los Dioses (Cómo el maíz llegó a la gente): Un mito azteca
*Music from the Gods (How Music Came to the World): An Aztec Myth
Música de los Dioses (Cómo la música llegó al mundo): Un mito azteca
El Nopal (How the Cactus Came to the World): An Aztec Myth
*The Murmur of the River (How Music Came to the World): A Mayan Myth
El murmullo del río (Cómo la música llegó al mundo): Un mito maya
The Possum's Tail (How Fire Came to the World): A Mazatec Myth
The Gift of the Toad (Why People Use Sticks to Make Fire): A Yaqui Myth
Badger Names the Sun (Why the Badger Lives Underground): A Yaqui Myth
*The Bridge of Many Colors (The First Rainbow): A Zapotec Myth
El puente multicolor (El primer arco iris): Un mito zapoteca
Song to Three Stars (Why Coyote Howls to the Sky): A Tarahumara Myth
The Comet and the Tiger (Why the Tiger Has Black Spots): A Mexica Myth
The Rain of Five Years (The Story of the Creation of the World): A Huichol Myth
Stories from Spanish Colonial Mexico
Trickster Tales
*Pedro and the Money Tree
Pedro y el Arbol de Dinero
Pedro and the Pig Tails
*Pedro and the Magic Pot
Pedro y la olla mágica
Pedro and the Mule Drivers
Pedro and the Giant
Pedro and the Hanging Tree
Pedro Goes to Heaven
Tales of Transformation, Magic, and Adventure
*The Wonderful Chirrionera
La maravillosa chirrionera
The Waterfall of Wisdom
The Miracle of Mirajel
The Green Bird
The Enchanted Forest
The Jewels of Shining Light
Background About Juan Oso
Juan Oso
Dos Compadres Stories
*Ashes for Sale
Se venden cenizas
The Magic Cap
The Art of Lying
Animal Fables
*The Fox and the Coyote
El zorro y el coyote
*The Lion and the Cricket
El león y el grillo
The Mouse and the Ant
*The Owl and the Painted Bird
La lechuza y el pájaro pintado
The Ant Who Learned to Play the Flute
The Burro and the Fox
Glossary of Spanish Words
Suggested Readings
Permissions and Credits
Index
Author's Biography