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Resumen:
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This origin myth attributes the creation of the island of New Guinea to the great sea turtle. Finding a hill of sand rising from the ocean floor, turtle makes an island resting place for herself. Under the sea, she finds a lonely man and takes him to the island; she locates a solitary woman and takes her for the man's wife. "They laughed, they played in the sea, sometimes they quarreled, but they never lost the joy in their hearts." Despite this and other lyrical notes, whatever depth this myth has for its own people does not resonate for readers in this version. The sea turtle lacks cosmic significance or even nurturing qualities; the creation here is casual and seems pointless. Lessac's naive paintings only partially redeem the story's flatness; readers may miss much of the liveliness and charm of her renderings in My Little Island (Lippincott, 1985) and other books. In contrast to the buff sand or washed-out aqua backgrounds of most spreads here, the black (volcanic earth) background of the finished island is dramatically more effective. Long, fringed eyelashes give the turtle a coy and frivolous air, and her giant size is not readily apparent. Only when the island is thickly covered with plants, houses, and people does the artist's gift for overall patterning get sufficient play.
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