Young People's Stories of Courage

Abstract

There are four stories in this oversized pamphlet. The first, The Brave Mice from Greece, is illustrated by Gwen Connelly (2). This is Aesop's BC, but in an unusual version. An old gray mouse suggests the belling, and the editor says that it is a good idea. But none of the mice had the courage to carry out the plan (5). As in other copies in the series, this Aesopic fable--alone of the four stories here--has no source acknowledged on 30. The second story, The Honest Thumb from the Yoruba in Nigeria, is illustrated by Eldon C. Doty (6). The thumb moves away from his thieving brothers. Ever since, he has been separate from them. The third story is The Elephant and the Ant from India, illustrated here by Marion Eldridge (10). The courageous ant enters the elephant's trunk while the latter is sleeping. From there he can drive the elephant crazy--and does! The last story is The Great White Condor from the Aymaran Indians of Bolivia. It is illustrated by Stephanie Pershing (18). It tells the story of the origin of the potato. Young Choque is missioned by his father the chieftain to sustain the enslaved people with his courage. Choque's people, the Sapallas, suffer dreadfully under the ruling Karis. One day the great god Pachacamac appears to Choque in the form of a great white condor. The condor points to seeds that the Sapallas are to sow instead of the seeds given by the Karis. The Sapallas are to wait for the underground growth but to give the poisonous above-ground green balls to the Karis. They are also to collect stones to use against the Karis. The whole plot works. Even the old captives like Choque's father are restored to the tribe.