Ocean State Libraries

In this book - the companion volume to The Girl From Chimel - Nobel Peace Prize winner and Maya activist Rigoberta Menchu Tum returns to the world of her childhood. The Honey Jar brings us the ancient stories her grandparents told her when she was a little girl, and we can imagine her listening to them by the fire at night. These Maya tales include creation myths, a classic story about the magic twins (which can also be found in the Popol Vuh), explanations...

A collection of twenty-two traditional tales from the Mayas, including "How Christ Was Chased" and "The Corn in the Rock."

A mother and father mouse search for the perfect husband for their beautiful daughter.

After several unsuccessful attempts to create grateful creatures, the Mayan gods use sacred corn to fashion a people who will thank and praise their creators.

A young chief who had been protected by a hummingbird is killed by his jealous uncle and then transformed into a quetzal, symbol of freedom.

A woman sends a message to her twin grandsons through a louse, and when it is swallowed by a frog, a chain of events involving other animals begins.

Hunab Ku, the first Creator God of the Mayas, challenges the Moon Goddess and Lizard House to create a being to worship him, butthe Maize God succeeds where the others fail.

"A bilingual retelling of a Guatemalan folktale about a young man who tries to win the hand of a Mayan princess by making his song as sweet as that of the birds." --