The Race of Toad and Deer

Citation: Mora, Pat. 2001. The race of toad and deer. Toronto, Canada: Publishers Group West. ISBN: 0-88899-434-6. Plot Summary: Sapo, the toad, is tired of hearing Venado, the deer, and all of his boastings. Determined to put an end to the arrogant deer's big mouth Sapo and his friends devise a plan to fix him once and for all. Using brain power, cooperation and a little trickery they send proud Venado back to the forest. Critical Analysis: Set in the jungle, The Race of Toad and Deer is a beautifully written story by Pat Mora and illustrated by Domi. The story is a version of Aesops' The Tortoise and The Hare, the Sapo being the Tortoise and Venado being the Hare. It is regionally set to Mexico/Spanish speaking countries as Anansi the spider is from Africa. The use of Spanish is sprinkled throughout. It is necessary to understand the regional theme of the book. The wiser and a bit older Tio Sapo is the definitive wise animal of the jungle. The theme of listening to and respecting their elders, this is familiar in culturally explicit literature. I believe the story is relatable to every culture. It is well told without being too overbearing with the language. The illustrations add to the language of the story. They are very indicative of the indigenous art of Latin America. Accessed Reviews: Booklist This Mayan spin on the story of the tortoise and hare was published in another version by Mora in 1995 under the same title. Here, Mora's rewritten text matches up with new illustrations in a bright new edition that is great for reading aloud. When Sapo the toad and Venado the deer challenge each other to a race, Sapo enlists the help of his jungle friends, outsmarts Venado, and wins. There's no gloating, though. Venado learns his lessons about pride and humility, but he's still cheered on and accepted by the others. The new text is well paced, lyrical, and sprinkled with Spanish phrases that kids can easily pick up. Some children may have trouble identifying the animal figures in the wild patterns of Domi's childlike, abstract watercolors, especially at a distance. But most little ones will respond to the cheery action and energy in the spreads, painted in sun-saturated, brilliant shades. From School Library Journal Venado, the wood deer, considers himself king of the jungle, a position he feels he merits by virtue of being the biggest and fastest of its inhabitants. While biggest is not in dispute, Tio Sapo, the old toad, feels that he is the fastest. When Venado challenges Sapo to a race, the outcome is decided not so much by speed as by wits. This Guatemalan version of "The Tortoise and the Hare" is retold in straightforward, snappy language that begs for oral presentation. It is soundly complemented by Domi's brilliantly colored, kinetic watercolors. Primitive forms that sometimes seem to be free-floating on vibrant, multihued backgrounds give the impression of a jungle teeming with life. Pair this with Janet Stevens's The Tortoise and the Hare (Holiday, 1984) for a cross-cultural look at a popular folk motif. Connections: Harvison, C. Renee, Carl Lindahl, and Maida Owens. Swapping stories: folktales from louisiana. ISBN: 0878059318 Winter, Milo. Aesop for children. ISBN: 1566192927 Burton, LeVar, Emil Pinnock, Mark Manucci, and Lary Lancit. The tortoise and the hare. VHS. ASIN: 6302033535