Jabuti the Tortoise: A Trickster Tale from the Amazon

Of all the animals in the rain forest, Jabuti was the favorite. His shell was smooth and shiny, and the songs he played on his flute were sweet. But his music was a reminder, too, of the mischievous pranks Jabuti sometimes played. His song reminded Tapir of being tricked, Jaguar of being fooled, and time and again it reminded Vulture that he had no song at all. When a concert takes place in heaven, Vulture offers to fly Jabuti there . . . all the while plotting a trick of his own. Gerald McDermott makes myths new again for readers of all ages, using language as vibrant and colorful as his bold illustrations. Jabuti is an unusual tale of a trickster’s fall from grace, and of how creation can sometimes come from chaos.