Rudolfo Anaya

Rudolfo Anaya is professor emeritus of English at the University of New Mexico. He has received numerous literary awards, including the Premio Quinto Sol and a National Medal of Arts.

He is the author of the classic work Bless Me, Ultima, which was chosen for the National Endowment for the Arts' Big Read. Anaya's other books for adults include Tortuga, Heart of Aztlan, Alburquerque, Rio Grande Fall, Shaman Winter, Jemez Spring, Serafina's Stories, The Man Who Could Fly and Other Stories, and Rudolfo Anaya: The Essays. His children's books include Farolitos of Christmas, My Land Sings, Elegy on the Death of César Chávez, Roadrunner's Dance, and The First Tortilla. Bless Me, Ultima was adapted into a feature film in 2013. Anaya resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

My Land Sings

Stories from the Río Grande

By Rudolfo Anaya

A magical collection of 10 stories based on the folklore and oral traditions of Mexican and Native American cuentistas

Rich in the folklore of his ancestors, Rudolfo Anaya’s tales will delight young readers from across the globe. In stories both original and passed down, this bestselling author incorporates powerful themes of family, faith, and choosing the right path in life. In “Lupe and la Llorona,” a 7th grader searches for the legendary Llorana; in “The Shepard Who Knew the Language of Animals,” a shepherd named Abel saves a snake and gains the ability to understand the language of animals; In “Dulcinea,” a 15-year-old dances with the Devil. Other tales feature coyotes, ravens, a woodcutter who tries to cheat death, the Virgin Mary, a golden carp, and a young Latino who seeks immortality.

Deeply rooted in ancient mythological beliefs, these accounts of enchantment are as beautiful and mysterious as the Rio Grande itself—and serve as a testament to the lost art of oral storytelling.

This ebook features illustrations by by Amy Córdova.

EDITORIAL REVIEWS

“Contains compelling twists that will keep the pages turning.” —Publishers Weekly
“Filled with ghosts, devils, and tricksters, these cuentos are suffused with the beliefs of the peoples in the Rio Grande region. . . . Anaya champions the reading of a good book or listening to a folktale as an opportunity to insert one’s own experiences into the story and, hence, to nurture the imagination. This appealing volume will add diversity to folklore collections.” —Library Journal
“Every story spins its magic effectively. Best of all, beyond their solid entertainment value and read-aloud potential, the engaging tales allegorically extol solid virtues (obeying one’s parents, creating luck through hard work, keeping vows, being charitable) that readers can easily grasp.” —Booklist
“The wide variety of stories demonstrate a mature understanding of life’s trappings and dangers, but retain a healthy sense of humor about the human predicament.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Perfect to use as an introduction to the Hispanic culture of the Southwest.” —Multicultural Review