Title: Cruz, Alejandro. The Woman Who Outshone the Sun: the Legend of Lucia Zenteno, from a poem by Alejandro Cruz Martinez. San Francisco, CA: Children's Book Press, c 1991.
Summary: One day, the beautiful Lucia arrives in the village, trailing butterflies and flowers, and accompanied by a loyal iguana. Her beauty was so great that some people said she outshone the sun, while her long black hair seemed to block it out. When Lucia bathed in the river, the river and the fishes loved her and flowed through her hair. When she was done bathing, Lucia would comb her hair out and the water and fishes would return to the river. The village elders said that the people would always honor Lucia, even though she was different. But the people ignored the elders, and were mean to her. Lucia kept her dignity, which only angered the villagers more, so much so that they drove her away. Lucia went to say goodbye to the river, which flowed through her hair and refused to leave her! When she left, only a dry riverbed remained. When the villagers saw the water, fish and animals leaving, they despaired. They and their animals began to thirst. After much urging from the elders, the people agreed to find Lucia and apologize. They found her and begged for mercy. Lucia was compassionate and agreed to ask the river to return to them, but said that just as the river gives water to all, the villagers must be kind to everyone, even those who seemed different. She combed out her hair; the river and water animals returned and the village rejoiced. In all the celebrating, no one noticed when Lucia disappeared. The elders said that she would always be there in spirit to guide them and keep understanding and love in their hearts.
Cultural origins and how identified: This is quoted from the book's afterword: "The legend of Lucia Zenteno is part of the oral history of the Zapotec Indians of Oaxaca, Mexico." The Zapotec poet Alejandro Cruz Martinez collected many of his people's stories and published his own version of this tale as a poem in 1986."
Audience: This story is for grades K-3 [ages 5-9] according to School Library Journal review. I agree with this assessment. This would be a great story to use to teach about tolerance of differences in a classroom (or library) setting.
Notes on adaptation for telling: This is a bilingual tale, so ideally it should be told by someone who speaks both Spanish and English. Failing that, I'd tell the English version and find a Spanish-speaking storyteller to tell the tale. It might be fun to alternate "episodes" of the tale, if that wouldn't be too confusing. It's a beautiful story, with a saintly heroine, so I'd tell it reverently.
Summary: One day, the beautiful Lucia arrives in the village, trailing butterflies and flowers, and accompanied by a loyal iguana. Her beauty was so great that some people said she outshone the sun, while her long black hair seemed to block it out. When Lucia bathed in the river, the river and the fishes loved her and flowed through her hair. When she was done bathing, Lucia would comb her hair out and the water and fishes would return to the river. The village elders said that the people would always honor Lucia, even though she was different. But the people ignored the elders, and were mean to her. Lucia kept her dignity, which only angered the villagers more, so much so that they drove her away. Lucia went to say goodbye to the river, which flowed through her hair and refused to leave her! When she left, only a dry riverbed remained. When the villagers saw the water, fish and animals leaving, they despaired. They and their animals began to thirst. After much urging from the elders, the people agreed to find Lucia and apologize. They found her and begged for mercy. Lucia was compassionate and agreed to ask the river to return to them, but said that just as the river gives water to all, the villagers must be kind to everyone, even those who seemed different. She combed out her hair; the river and water animals returned and the village rejoiced. In all the celebrating, no one noticed when Lucia disappeared. The elders said that she would always be there in spirit to guide them and keep understanding and love in their hearts.
Cultural origins and how identified: This is quoted from the book's afterword: "The legend of Lucia Zenteno is part of the oral history of the Zapotec Indians of Oaxaca, Mexico." The Zapotec poet Alejandro Cruz Martinez collected many of his people's stories and published his own version of this tale as a poem in 1986."
Audience: This story is for grades K-3 [ages 5-9] according to School Library Journal review. I agree with this assessment. This would be a great story to use to teach about tolerance of differences in a classroom (or library) setting.
Notes on adaptation for telling: This is a bilingual tale, so ideally it should be told by someone who speaks both Spanish and English. Failing that, I'd tell the English version and find a Spanish-speaking storyteller to tell the tale. It might be fun to alternate "episodes" of the tale, if that wouldn't be too confusing. It's a beautiful story, with a saintly heroine, so I'd tell it reverently.
Great story! kmh
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