How The Sea Began: A Taino Myth by George L. Crespo, is a West Indies legend about a magical wooden gourd that breaks and floods the land to become the world's ocean. It is said that in the beginning of time, the people of Zuania lived on mountains, worshipped deities, and hunted for food with bows and arrows. Paired with colorful illustrations, the tale of how the sea began is great for second graders. The author includes a brief explanation of the story's geography and origin in the back of the book, which could be used to teach a History lesson on native Indians. Students might also be encouraged to read similar books about myths and legends in an activity where they compare different types of literature. ( )

In this story Crespo pays homage to the people who helped shape the Puerto Rican heritage. This book is beautifully illustrated with vivid colors and interesting images. It uses a lot of traditional words as well and at the end there is a pronunciation guide to help pronounce the new words children may learn reading. This book will help teach children about a new culture that they might not have known before.