Maya and the Turtle

K-Gr 3–A folktale about self-sacrifice and love and how it is rewarded. Maya is foretold her destiny by her dying mother, who proclaims, “You will be a princess.” But Maya grows up contentedly poor, loving, and humble. One day she finds a baby turtle and raises it as her pet as turtles are considered lucky in her culture. Her simple, happy life changes dramatically when her father falls ill and Maya needs money for his medicine. She has heard that a neighboring village will pay her to place herself up for sacrifice to a monster centipede that visits the village once a year. Maya confronts it but is saved by her fearless friend, the turtle, who fights it to the death. The village is elated and news spreads quickly to the Emperor of heaven and earth. Maya is betrothed to his son, and the two reign peacefully ever after. The tale is simply told and includes supplemental notes on each page that explain certain aspects of Korean culture, such as the legend of the turtle and artifacts of the people and their beliefs. Unfortunately, the notes sometimes interrupt the flow of the text. For the most part, the illustrations are traditional Korean depictions, but elements of American expressions and facial features find their way onto the page, especially in the couples’ wedding portrait in which the bride favors a certain American iconic doll. The illustration of the many cultures represented at the wedding also attempts a certain diversity that borders on stereotype. The tale itself is a familiar one with a lovely sentiment, but it’s an optional purchase.–C. J. Connor, Campbell County Public Library, Cold Spring, KY