IF YOU WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A JUNGLE AND WANTED TO PLAY, WHO WOULD YOU PLAY WITH? IN THIS STORY, A CHILD JUST LIKE YOU DECIDES TO PLAY WITH MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURES OF BRAZILIAN FOLKLORE. BUT, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO PLAY?
TURN THE PAGES AND FIND OUT HOW FUN IT IS TO PLAY WITH THEM.
CURUPIRA, CURUPIRA, WILL YOU PLAY WITH ME?
I’LL PLAY WITH YOU. BUT WHAT ABOUT CAIPORA?
CAIPORA, CAIPORA, WILL YOU PLAY WITH ME?
I’LL PLAY WITH YOU. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE HEADLESS MULE?
ABOUT THE BOOK
This book was especially created to foster the pleasure of reading in younger children. Its format, size, illustrations, text and themes stem from the joint collaboration of several different educators who wanted to create an intelligent and playful book. Its main target audience are children. However, readers of all ages will also be charmed by these amazing characters drawn from Brazilian folklore.
This book’s main target age group was determined based on its key literacy lesson: to introduce children to the joys of reading.
The text’s sing-song structure, comprised of a short, simple sentence repeated throughout the book is easy to remember and the more detailed descriptions of each creature will help the child develop his or her memory skills. By understanding and mastering the text with the help of an adult, children will find reading a delightful experience, even if they are still not reading on their own.
The book’s illustrations work as cues for children to interact with the written text – such as the call-and-response dialog between the child and the creature-characters on odd and even pages and the use of capital letters in the main body of text, which help the child learn the letters of the alphabet.
This book also contributes to disseminating Brazilian popular culture to an English-speaking audience by providing an introduction to the characters and images drawn from Brazilian folklore. Originally, this book was designed to contribute to the cultural education and literacy of Brazilian children. Now English speakers may also share in this endeavor.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATIONS
Several preliminary studies were conducted regarding the representation of each fictional creature-character depicted in the book. The idea was to draw original representations to enrich the readers’ mental images of these characters. Original hand-drawn drawings were then digitalized. During the digital processing, bold colors were used to emphasize the dense jungle setting while emphasizing the playful nature
Each page gives to the readers an illustration that complement the text, showing depictions of the antics of all the mythological
TO YOUNG READERS
To enhance any child’s reading experience, encourage each child to:
• talk about any mythological creatures she or he might already know;
• describe his or her interpretation of each illustration of Brazilian mythological creatures in the book and provide personal opinions;
• read the story out loud and in a group – the adult (or another child) reads a sentence and then another child reads the next sentence, alternating as they read;
• read the book individually without the assistance of a more experienced reader;
• identify and repeat out loud the characters’ names in the text;
• participate in a role-playing game after finishing the book, imitating the characters;
• dress up like the characters, creating and wearing costumes to look like Saci-pererê, Iara, Cuca, Caipora and the others.
• find more information on Brazilian folklore creatures in other sources;
• write and illustrate his or her own book on these wonderful mythological characters.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aloma
Curupira, will you play with me? was written to bring out the value of Brazilian traditional mythology and teach children more about Brazil. It was also created to encourage kids to read. The idea was to write and illustrate a playful, fun book for the entire family: A book to read and discuss, a book to read and to be looked at, a book to be read and to be used for games. This book is intended to be read over and over, and I hope, to make imaginations run wild. I am a mother, educator, teacher, writer but above all, a reader.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
SUsana Rodrigues
I have been drawing my whole life. Stacks of papers with all kinds of drawings and doodles are piled up at my house! Some are really good and others not as much. But practice makes perfect. This is the first children’s book I have illustrated and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed illustrating it.
HERE THEY ARE — ALL TOGETHER — IN THE MIDDLE OF THE JUNGLE.
CURUPIRA, CAIPORA, HEADLESS MULE, SACI-PERERÊ,CUCA, BOITATÁ, PISADEIRA, CAPELOBO, GREAT SNAKE, MATINTA PERERA, WEREWOLF, MAPINGUARI, PINK DOLPHIN AND EVEN IARA.
WHAT ARE THEY DOING? WHAT DO THEY WANT? WHAT WILL HAPPEN?
CHILDREN WILL HAVE FUN LEARNING ABOUT THESE MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURES FROM BRAZILIAN JUNGLES AND WOODS. THEY WILL SURELY LOVE THE ENDING OF THE STORY. THIS BOOK WILL BE PLEASURABLE FOR READERS AND LISTENERS AND IS AN INTRODUCTION TO THESE CREATURES FROM BRAZILIAN FOLKLORE, WHO ARE LITTLE KNOWN BEYOND ITS SHORES.
