THE CHEWING GUM TREES

A story of the Chicleros of southern Mexico, and a trip to the jungle where the sap chewing gum is found. Carlos and Carmita live with their Grandmother Chone in the village while their father and mother are away in the jungle. There is the garden to help plant, the milpa (corn field) to tend, and most wonderful of all the return of the Chicleros brings their parents home and there is a fiesta. Then the children are allowed to come on the next jungle trip. They see how chicle sap is gathered, help the men and the women who cook for them, and see the dangers of the jungle -- fire and fever. Authentic and valuable for supplementary reading in geography though the noble children are dull and lifeless.