Old tales passed down through the generations, gathering elaboration as they go, and emerging as stories with humor and action and a good blend of fantasy and realism, of fact and fable, of high life and lowly life, of characteristic Mexican flavor -- and yet not the feel of growing out of nature and the people. Certain types of listeners will prefer these to more studiedly folk tales. And the book is a fine piece of bookmaking, with decorative spot drawings and doublespreads in color by Henry C. Pitz. Good read aloud and story telling material.