Dorothy Rhoads

Summary: The book is about a Family from Maya Mexico, this family was the decadence of the old Mayan Indian from long ago that lived in Mexico. The main food that they planted was Corn, and they also planted other type of vegetables that were grown during that season. The people believed that the ancient Gods and Goddesses created them from Corn. They also believed in allot of superstitions, that there was a Corn God, Rain God, Forrest God, and Their Mayan God. The story goes on to tell how they live, that almost everything that they eat and cook is made from corn that they had grown. The story focuses on the father and there little boy named Tigre which means Jaguar. Tigre was Twelve years old; the father had two other boys but died from a sickness. The father was preparing the Forrest to make an area where he was going to plant his corn and other vegetables called the (Milpa), a small field in Mexico or Central America that is cleared from the forest, cropped for a few seasons, and abandoned for a fresh one to plant there next crop. One day the father went without tigre and a tree that he was cutting down fell on him and broke his leg. Tigres father was not going to be able to finish the milpa, so Tigre decided that he was man enough to do the work, and did everything that his father needed him to do to plant the corn and get it done before the rains came was done by Tigre. At the end of the story the family was proud of Tigre for his hard work and doing all that he did to take care of the family and plant the crop that the family would need to live for that year.
Personal reflection: The book has great pictures that represent the Mayan Culture. The story of a brave young boy age twelve named Tigre that took on the responsibility of taking care of the family, and the preparation and planting of the crop on the Milpa for the survival of the family.
Class Extension:
1. The teacher can ask the students about the story and what were the things that the little boy do to help his father and family.
2. The teacher can bring corn that is still covered by its leaves to show the students how the corn looks like right off of it stock. Then take it apart in front of the students to see what the corn looks like.… (mehr)