The 1953 Winner of the Newbery Medal
Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark is a short, culturally rich novel about the life of a young boy who lived in the Andes Mountains in Peru, South America. This novel gives educators an opportunity to introduce South American Incan culture to young children.
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What you'll find here:
Meet Cusi of the Andes Mountains in Peru
... an Incan boy living high in the Andes Mountains.
Every year they shear the animals so that Chuto can take the llama wool to market. While Chuto visits the cities below, Cusi has never been off the top of the mountain.
But things are about to change. For the first time, Cusi is invited to go with Chuto to take the llama wool to the city. Instead of looking down at a distant family home to see other people, now he'll be able to walk among them and talk to them.
In this novel Cusi is able to make two trips to the city. He learns lessons about people, about his parents, and about himself.
The Need for Family - A Universal Theme.
... doesn't every child wants to know where he came from?
At the beginning of the book Cusi doesn't know who his parents are. He's never been with anyone but Chuto, so far as he can remember. He gets to meet a woman who might be his mother but also has to accept her death. He learns that his purpose does not lie with the others who live outside his mountain paradise.
What Do You Think of the Book?
... have you read it yet?
A Few Links: Peru and the Andes Mountains
... links to explore.
- Peru - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- All about Peru - from our favorite online encyclopedia type site.
- Peru - Photographs
- A collection of photographs taken in Peru, including images of Machu Picchu, Pisac, Cuzco, Puno, Nazca and Arequipa.
- Andes Mountains Peru
- Spotlight on the Andes Mountains from a Peruvian website.
Coca Leaves
... a part of Incan culture.
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July 2008 Featured Lens
This lens was the July 2008 featured lens on the Newbery Award Winning Books lens.
Thanks for visiting my lens about Secret of the Andes.
I've been reading novels for children for the last fifteen years, and now have written a few myself. It started when my children were young - I wanted to read novels like this one out loud to them. We had a lot of fun with it. I've found a lot of children's novels focus on foreign cultures. I recommend this as a way to teach your children about people in other lands.Click here to add this lens to your favorites.
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Secret of the Andes is now included on the The Isle of Squid where you can leave a review of this lens.
Your comments are welcome.
Let me know what you think.
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Reply
- stargazer00 stargazer00 Oct 24, 2009 @ 1:46 am
- I like to read children's novels as well. Sometimes they are better than books for grown-ups! I enjoyed this one too.
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Reply
- cowgirlup1123 cowgirlup1123 Jul 9, 2008 @ 10:51 am
- *****5*****STARS***** Wow me being a book lover and a kid I will have to get that book thanks!!!!!!!!!
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Reply
- Pantherart Pantherart Jul 4, 2008 @ 4:26 pm
- Great lens I sure that you will get blessed
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Reply
- awelldressedbullet awelldressedbullet Jun 17, 2008 @ 5:34 am
- Hi Linda, well done! - Kathy
About Me
Lensmaster LindaJM has been a member since June 11 2007, has rated 1,562 lenses, favorited 676, and has created 111 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "Drugging Foster Children". See all my lenses
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I live in the Klamath River Valley of Northern California. I share my life with my partner, Bob. We like to watch movies at home on DVD, swim, hike, and prospect for gold in the Siskiyou Mountains.
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