Of all the animals in the rain forest, Jabutí was the favorite. His
shell was smooth and shiny, and the songs he played on his flute were
sweet.
But his music was a reminder, too, of the mischievous pranks Jabutí
sometimes played. His song reminded Tapir of being tricked, Jaguar of
being fooled, and time and again it reminded Vulture that he had no song
at all. When a concert takes place in heaven, Vulture offers to fly
Jabutí there . . . all the while plotting a trick of his own.
Gerald McDermott makes myths new again for readers of all ages, using
language as vibrant and colorful as his bold illustrations. Jabutí is an
unusual tale of a trickster's fall from grace, and of how creation can
sometimes come from chaos.