Wings and Dreams

Gr 1—3—This adventurous, imaginative bilingual folktale is set at Venezuela's Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world. Vividly colored line drawings depict the animals, people, and scenery of this uniquely beautiful landmark. As the story begins, despair has set in upon the Pemones Indian community because their ancient territory has been invaded by conquerors from the north. Shortly thereafter, an elder in the tribe sends young Takupi on a treacherous journey in an attempt to locate land he has envisioned in his dreams. This land is said to be heavenly, where water abounds in the desertlike terrain, children are transported on eagles' backs, and man has the ability to touch the clouds. Takupi is given gifts to aid him on his journey, but even with them, he faces impediments that test his courage and call into question his destiny. At the conclusion, the author provides background information on Jimmy Angel, the U.S. pilot who discovered the falls in the 20 century, and the locale of a majestic natural wonder that the Pemones Indians have known for centuries.—Rhonda Jeffers, Coweta Public Library System, Newnan, GA