Module 3: Horse Hooves and Chicken Feet

Philip, Neil. 2003. Horse Hooves and Chicken Feet. Illus. by Jacqueline Mair. Clarion Books: New York. ISBN 0-618-19463-0.

This compilation of eclectic Mexican folktales would be a welcome addition to every folktale collection. Reader expectations for the fourteen Mexican tales are established by the table of contents and introduction. The tales are full of magic, clever tricksters, and stupidity. Several tales, such as The Two Marias and The Brave Widow, are infused with religious imagery. Many of the tales include vivacious illustrations that add magic and enchantment to the fanciful tales of good over evil. The warm and rich colors mesmerize the reader and reflect the Mexican heritage of the stories. The spicy illustrations for The Shadow are a combination of full page acrylic paintings and scenes from several passages from the story. This combination of illustration size is appealing to the reader and provides a great deal of visual support for the tales. Neil Philip also included notes and background explanation for each tale in the collection. The detailed bibliography will lead readers to other resources and materials to complete a collection or a unit of study.