Jose Aruego (1930–2012)

Falling asleep on the back of his carabao one afternoon, a young Filipino boy finds himself transported into the nearby jungle in this charming picture book from Filipino-American author/artist Jose Aruego. There he must confront the asuangs—the ghosts and spirits of the Philippines—that his Lola (grandmother) had warned him about. Guided by her advice on how to conduct himself, Juan manages to safely get through encounters with a Kapre (a sort of cigar-smoking tree giant), a Tianak (a show more vampiric creature that disguises itself as a baby), and a group of Batibats (bamboo spirits). Eventually he finds himself confronting the fearsome Mananangal, the predatory creature that has been stealing all of the dogs and chickens in his barrio. Able to separate itself from its lower half, the Mananangal is off raiding when Juan arrives, and that clever boy (who knows to listen to his Lola!) devises a way to injure it, upon its return, and thereby save all the captive animals...

I have encountered and enjoyed Aruego's work many times before, both in the artwork he has created for other authors' picture-books—Robert Kraus' Leo the Late Bloomer, Joseph Bruchac's How Chipmunk Got His Stripes, etc—but Juan and the Asuangs is only the second of his own picture-books, after A Crocodile's Tale: A Philippine Folk Story that I have read. I am glad that I finally picked it up, as I found it quite engaging, appreciating the glimpse of various creatures from Filipino folklore, all previously unknown to me. The artwork was colorful, and had a cartoon-like style that wasn't precisely to my taste, but which worked well with the story. I finished the book wanting to read more about all of the creatures mentioned, so perhaps I need to track down a larger anthology of folklore from the Philippines. I'd also like to track down more of Aruego's books. Recommended to young folklore lovers, as well as to any picture-book readers looking for stories with a Filipino cultural background. show less

When Juan comes across a crocodile tied to a tree, the captive animal promises the young boy a gold ring as a reward, if he will free him from his predicament. But once they are out on the river, the crocodile threatens to eat his erstwhile savior. Clever Juan asks an old basket, an abandoned hat, and a clever monkey if this is fair, hoping to outwit and escape the crocodile.

When I came across this Philippine folk story at the library, and saw that it was written and illustrated by the same show more team who worked with Joseph Bruchac on such picture-books as Raccoon's Last Race and How Chipmunk Got His Stripes, I immediately picked it up. A cautionary tale that warns of trusting to the gratitude of others, it is a fun little story, with colorful, cartoon-like illustrations. Published in 1972, it does feel a little dated, but readers interested in Philippine folklore will want to take a look at it regardless. show less

A Crocodile’s Tale: A Philippine Folk Story by Jose and Ariane Aruego is a beautifully illustrated retelling of a classic folk tale that highlights themes of wisdom and trickery. The story captivates young readers with its engaging narrative while offering a glimpse into Philippine culture and folklore. With its vibrant artwork and meaningful lesson, this book is both entertaining and educational.

This book is wordless and tells the very silly story of two water buffalos and the adventure they go on, which ends up in disaster. It is a great book to have kids retell the story of what happens and increase their comprehension and wondering.