Kusikiy A Child from Taquile, Peru, by author and illustrator Mercedes Cecilia, draws us into the kaleidoscopic and mysterious world of a Peruvian child. When the stars of the Llama Constellation are missing from the sky, Kusikiy flies with Condor to the highest snowed peak to ask the APU, the Guardian Spirit of the Mountain for his help. Kusikiy learns from his great grandparents the importance of the Glaciers and the traditional ways of giving thanks to Mother Earth. Mercedes Cecilia has created a myth following in the tradition of her Peruvian ancestors, a myth that treasures the universal values of love, family community and caring for The Earth. The story of Kusikiy a Child from Taquile, brings awareness to the Great Glaciers, the present environmental climate, and our concern with global warming. The characters, animals, forces of nature and heroic central figure in the story make it a modern day fable and myth that illustrates important lessons for our modern, global culture. Kusikiy a Child from Taquile, Peru, is a book that gives parents and educators a visual and appealing way to engage children in a dialogue about traditional cultures, community life and caring for our environment. It’s a story of a loving and adventurous child that offers children of all ages a multitude of opportunities to gain knowledge, to be entertained and be reminded that-- our world is formed by people that have different ways of life.
