BAILA, NANA, BAILA/DANCE, NANA, DANCE

Known for Mexican and Mexican-American stories, Hayes reaches beyond his usual borders and finds a strong new source of tales in Cuba. Thirteen stories are told on opposite pages in English and Spanish, ready to read aloud or to be tucked into storytellers’ repertoires. They are lively, often funny and sometimes a bit scary. Many different types appear: “Young Heron’s New Clothes” is related to the Anansi stories, “The Fig Tree” has elements of the Grimms’ “The Juniper Tree” and “The Gift,” a patakí, is a myth about the Orishas, the holy figures of the Afro-Cuban religion of Santería. The excellent notes at the end include references to the stories as they are found in different cultures, although, unfortunately, complete citations for the works mentioned in the notes have been omitted, and there is no bibliography. Sayago, a Cuban artist now living in the United States, provides bold paintings that appear to be done on textured paper and portray most of the human characters as Afro-Cubans. Eminently tellable, all the stories have refrains and songs sure to get audiences joining in. (Folklore. 7-12)