Drawing on more than eight years of direct contact with Indigenous communities in the Xingu region, Legends and Myths of Brazilian Indians brings together twenty-four traditional stories from different Indigenous peoples of Brazil. Retold and illustrated by artist and storyteller Walde-Mar de Andrade e Silva, the collection explores the origins of rivers, plants, animals, celestial bodies, and natural phenomena, offering readers a rich introduction to Indigenous cosmologies and ways of understanding the world.

Walde-Mar de Andrade e Silva dedicated much of his artistic career to documenting and celebrating Indigenous cultures. During years of close interaction with Indigenous communities, he gathered stories, observed daily life, ceremonies, and traditions, and transformed these experiences into a unique work that combines literature, visual art, and cultural preservation. The book also features a foreword by renowned Brazilian indigenist Orlando Villas Bôas, one of the key figures in the creation of the Xingu Indigenous Park.

A distinctive feature of the book is its visual dimension. Each legend is accompanied by richly detailed paintings in Walde-Mar’s signature naïve style, inspired by Indigenous art, rituals, and landscapes. The illustrations do more than complement the stories: they function as visual interpretations of the narratives, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the symbolism, colors, and imagery of the cultures represented.

Featuring stories from peoples such as the Kaiapó, Kaingang, Tupi, Maué, Munduruku, Karajá, Baré, and Kamaiurá, Legends and Myths of Brazilian Indians offers an engaging journey through Brazil’s cultural diversity. Blending mythology, oral tradition, and visual storytelling, the book preserves ancestral knowledge while introducing readers to one of the richest Indigenous storytelling traditions in the Americas.