by Joe Hayes
9. JUAN CAMISÓN
The story of the valiant little tailor who killed seven with one blow was a favorite of mine when I was a boy. I enjoy how the tale of Juan Camisón resembles and differs from the well-known Grimms’ story. I also enjoy the epic laziness of Juan. The examples of how Juan checks to see if the fire is burning by touching the cat’s fur and whether it had rained by petting the dog are stock elements and turn up in several tales collected from traditional tellers in the early days. Spanish-speaking children especially enjoy the taunt, “Juan Camisón, te falta pantalón,” which is something I added, but is very much in keeping with traditional storytelling style. Brave tailor stories are classified as number 1640 in the Aarne-Thompson index.
10. THE PRINCE
I enjoy the simple structure of this story. It’s one of the many, many tales of fantastic helpers (Aarne-Thompson type 513), and the remarkable ability of each helper always determines the challenges the hero will face as the story unfolds. Most children have been introduced to stories of this type—often as The Five Chinese Brothers—and I encourage them to invent a new set of helpers and make up their own story based on tasks suited to them. When you tell this story, you’ll have fun by saying the names of the helpers in rapid succession. It’s also fun to watch the listeners’ reaction to the long hair coming out of the princess’ belly. Some listeners have seen cultural significance in the final scene in which the king only yields up his daughter when faced with the alternative of sacrificing his crown, but I have to confess that’s entirely my invention. For the most part, however, I used a combination of New Mexican tales from Rael and Espinosa to develop my version.
THE TRIALS OF A TITLE
It may be that when you read the Spanish title of this book, you thought, Shouldn’t it be “El día que nevó tortillas?” If so, you’re not the only one who has wondered that. The first time I translated the story (for inclusion in the book Watch Out for Clever Women! / ¡Cuidado con las mujeres astutas!) I used the verb form nevó, but by the time the book was published I decided that the better form was nevaron, and that’s how the title appeared in the first edition. However, an editor who read the book, a native speaker of Spanish who had been educated in Latin America, insisted that I had committed an error and that the verb should be changed to nevó. It was changed in the second edition, and that was how the title stood until I began preparing the manuscript for the present book. When the publisher showed advance publicity to a variety of Spanish editors, all of them native speakers from Spain or Latin America, a disagreement emerged. Some were certain that I should say nevaron tortillas; others were equally convinced the correct expression was nevó tortillas. Still others said that both were correct and that I should just do as I pleased. Finally, an editor carried the question to the highest court of arbitration: La Real Academia de la Lengua Española (The Royal Academy of the Spanish Language). We received our answer: La frase que usted propone se redactaría del siguiente modo: El día que nevaron tortillas. From their data bank, the Academy sent examples of analogous expressions in contemporary writing. And so the book has the title which you see. When you tell the story, however, if it feels better to say el día que nevó tortillas, feel perfectly free to do it!
OTHER BILINGUAL BOOKS BY JOE HAYES
FROM CINCO PUNTOS PRESS
PAJARO VERDE / THE GREEN BIRD
Illustrated by Antonio Castro L.
A classic tale from New Mexico’s magical folklore.
¡EL CUCUY! A BOGEYMAN CUENTO IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH
Illustrated by Honorio Robledo
The best tales, like this one always have a happy ending.
LITTLE GOLD STAR / ESTRELLITA DE ORO, A CINDERELLA CUENTO
Illustrated by Gloria Osuna Perez and Lucia Angela Perez
A wonderful celebration of the human spirit.
WATCH OUT FOR CLEVER WOMEN / ¡CUIDADO CON LAS MUJERES ASTUTAS!
Illustrated by Vicki Trego Hill
All the heroes in this are women!
LA LLORONA / THE WEEPING WOMAN
Illustrated by Vicki Trego Hill
The best-known folk story of Hispanic America.
TELL ME A CUENTO / CUENTAME UN STORY
4 Stories in English & Spanish
Illustrated by Geronimo Garcia
Four of Joe’s most popular tales in English and Spanish!