Book Review #5

The First Strawberries

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Author: Joseph Bruchac

Illustrator: Anna Vojtech

Publisher: Puffin Books

ISBN: 9780613077835

Main Characters: The first man, the first woman, and the sun.

Plot: The first man and the first woman are happy together. Then one day, the man speaks to the woman in anger. The woman decides to leave and sets off on her own. The man regrets his actions and tries to follow her. She is too far ahead of him, and so the sun tries to slow the woman down by putting berries in her path. Finally, she notices the strawberries and tastes one. It reminds her of how happy her life had been before the unkind words. She makes the realization that she wants to share the strawberries with the man and stops to pick them. This gave the man time to catch up with her. The man apologizes to the woman, and balance is restored.

Settings: An open area outside among the plants and hills. 

Genre/Theme/Style: Based on the folklore of the Native American Cherokee story of the origins of strawberries, the book has a very simple style and generates an interest in Native American legends. It is a picture book with beautiful artwork that portrays nature and its importance. 

 4 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁

Critical Analysis: After reading The Origin Of Strawberries retold by Barbara Shining Woman Warren, located at firstpeople.us, I compared the two legends. I think they are close in spirit, but I did notice that in the retelling by Barbara Shining Woman Warren, first man really didn't care that first woman had left. The retold stories found at the firstpeople.us site were so much more realistic that it was hard not to compare them with the book's shorter version. 

I learned that the strawberry became an important symbol for the Cherokees. It came to represent forgiveness, respect, the goodness of nature, and good luck. This book teaches children that forgiveness is a valuable part of life, as is the goodness of the natural world.

Why 4 Roars? Although this book is a children's storybook, the retold Origin of Strawberries' legends has a distinct flavor that is hard to replicate in a children's book. The book is oversimplified in some ways and uses words that children might have trouble understanding. 

Illustrations: The artist uses watercolors to bring to life the importance of nature that is surrounded in sunlight. 

Connections:

Lesson Plan

Native Americans