The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas

Gr 5 Up–This text features sacred stories that have been passed down within and by Indigenous cultures of the Americas for thousands of years. Each of these mesmerizing stories pulls readers in, leaving them wishing they could remain within these worlds much longer. Tales provide lessons humans should heed and stories about how things came to be, such as the stars, the sun, and the moon. Some stories, such as “Hummingbird” from the Guarani tradition, tell of tragedies and love; others, such as “Kukulkan” from the Yucatec and K’iche’ tradition and “Land of Fire” from the Selk’nam tradition tell of how some things came to be and about the gods’ interactions with one another. Stories pass on messages of hope and resilience, but also provide events filled with sadness and tragedy. The vibrant blue, black, and white palette used in the illustrations brings events from the stories beautifully to life. A pronunciation guide, “Quick Guide to Cultures” featured in the text, map, and glossary add to the richness of this title.