A collection of Mayan folktales deals with themes of creation, nature, mutual respect, and ethnic relations and conflicts.

These Mayan fables and animal stories were collected and transcribed by the author from Jakaltek-Maya language, one of the 21 Mayan languages that are still spoken in Guatemala. The stories are firmly rooted in the world of nature, demonstrating and insisting on honesty, understanding and respect among people and their cultures.

Slim the bird is assigned to clean Gar the crocodile's teeth, but Gar is the most fearsome crocodile in the river, and Slim is afraid until Gar saves his life and explains why he looks so frightening.

"Set forth in non-technical language the salient facts regarding the birds of the world ... Every family has been reviewed ... The treatment of the so-called game birds, both aquatic and non-aquatic, has purposely been made very full ... Main attention has been given to the birds as they appear in their homes--that is, their plumage, habits, songs; nests and eggs, food, etc."--Preface. 233 illustrations--color and black & white photographs, line drawings. Indexed.

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 Birds are the great communicators of the animal world. They speak with their voices, their bodies, and their feathers. They may not have the facial musculature we primates use to express ourselves, but they can powerfully communicate their inner states with head and body movements. #2 The quelea bird’s facial plumage is extremely variable, and scientists have struggled to find any correlation between fitness and color. However, the birds know who they are, and they know who is trustworthy, so they can stop harassing one another and get down to the business of nest building. #3 The dawn chorus is a baffling behavior that occurs in the dark hours before dawn, when many birds sing at the same time. It may be because cool temperatures, calm air, and less ambient noise from insects allow their songs to travel farther. #4 bird songs and calls range from the odd comical cluck and rattle of the willow ptarmigan to the elfin chucklings of Leach’s storm petrels. They are a tapestry of vocal behaviors that helps birds coexist and become the wildly successful and diverse group they are.