A retelling, in parallel English and Spanish text, of the traditional tale told in the Southwest and in Mexico of how the beautiful Maria became a ghost.
A collection of stories by Sandra Cisneros, the celebrated bestselling author of The House on Mango Street and the winner of the 2019 PEN/Nabokov Award for Achievement in International Literature. The lovingly drawn characters of these stories give voice to the vibrant and varied life on both sides of the Mexican border with tales of pure discovery, filled with moments of infinite and intimate wisdom.
La Llorona (The Crying Woman) is a sad and haunting tale from Mexico. Parents have told the story for hundreds of years to misbehaving children and to guard against vanity. Some say the story is about Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés and a native Mexican woman who served as his translator. Her loss can be compared to the loss of native Mexican culture after the Spanish conquest.
"How is it that there are so many lloronas?" A haunting figure of Mexican oral and literary traditions, La Llorona permeates the consciousness of her folk community. From a ghost who haunts the riverbank to a murderous mother condemned to wander the earth after killing her own children in an act of revenge or grief, the Weeping Woman has evolved within Chican@ imaginations across centuries, yet no truly comprehensive examination of her impact existed until now. Tracing La Llorona from ancient oral tradition to her appearance in contemporary material culture, There Was a Woman delves into the intriguing transformations of this provocative icon. From La Llorona's roots in legend to the revisions of her story and her exaltation as a symbol of resistance, Domino Renee Perez illuminates her many permutations as seductress, hag, demon, or pitiful woman. Perez draws on more than two hundred artifacts to provide vivid representations of the ways in which these perceived identities are woven from abstract notions—such as morality or nationalism—and from concrete, often misunderstood concepts from advertising to television and literature. The result is a rich and intricate survey of a powerful figure who continues to be reconfigured.
All her life, Prietita has heard terrifying tales of "la llorona", the legendary ghost of a woman who steals children at night. When she actually encounters the ghost, Prietita discovers a compassionate woman who helps Prietita on her journey of self-discovery. Based on a Mexican legend. Full-color illustrations.
"A new interpretive map of the borderlands as space, trope, meaning, and creative landscape inhabited and reimagined by Mexican and Mexican American peoples. Leon weaves together saints, healers, writers, movements and ideas with skill, bringing a fresh critical mind to Chicano/Latino and Religious studies."—David Carrasco, Neil L. Rudenstine Professor of the Study of Latin America, Harvard University "In this sweeping and ambitious book, Leon explores Mexican and Chicano religious practices that move 'beyond' colonialism . . . ."—José David Saldivar
AY-EEEE! A spooky howl pierces the dark night. Is it the wind? Or is it the ghost called La Llorona? La Llorona is said to haunt moonlit roads and riverbanks, crying for her lost children. Before she became a ghost, La Llorona was a beautiful young woman named Maria. But Maria’s wish for wealth led her to doom. Read this haunting tale to find out more.
In the Spanish-speaking world, storytelling, folklore, legends and myths always teach a lesson. These lessons revolve around life skills, acquiring tolerance, and understanding the difference between right and wrong. Children have learned for generations that making correct decisions will affect their entire lives. They also know the environment around them can help or hurt, so they must be aware of any danger. The most famous story known throughout the world in different variations is the story of la Llorona, a crying ghost who mysteriously appears. This ghost is mostly seen near waterways, but can also be seen in other places. The base of the story is that if a child is playing in a ditch or river, la Llorona might appear, take the child with her, and the boy or girl will never be seen again. The moral is, do not play in ditches or rivers, because a sudden rise in the flow of water can hurt you. Rosalia de Aragon brings this story to life in her Spanish/English bilingual book for children, which is part of the Cuentame un Cuento series from Event Horizon Press. This delightful and captivating story tells of three children who have a narrow escape and learn the true meaning of being careful, looking out for others, and following the right paths in life. Wonderful illustrations created by high school student Rosalinda Pacheco beautifully enhance this book children and adults will find a joyful pleasure to read."
Spanish speakers around the world for generations have told stories of La Llorona, "the weeping woman," and the many versions of this legendary phantom woman vary from one region to the next. In this book of fifty-six stories shared by people from the American Southwest as well as south of the border, there are dozens of versions of this ghostly specter that range from a terrifying skeletal creature with blood dripping from its eyes to a baby with fangs wrapped in a quilt -- but no matter what she looks like, she nearly always manages to terrorize her wayward victims into changing their ways.
Laney Moralesœ dream of playing soccer in Mazatlan, Mexico soon turns into a nightmare, as she discovers that the spine-chilling legends of old may actually be modern mysteries. Friendless and frightened, Laney must endure the eerie cries in the night alone. Why does no one else seem to hear or see the weeping woman in the long white dress? Laney must stop the dreadful visits, even if it means confessing her poor choices and coming face to face withLa Llorona.