Title:
The First Strawberries
Author:
Joseph Bruchac
Illustrator: Anna Vojtech
Just the Beginning
“Long ago when
the world was new, the Creator made a man and a woman. The two of them were made at the same time so
that neither would be lonesome. They
married, and for a long time they lived together and were happy.”
Summary
One day, the
man says unkind words to the woman. She walks away in anger. The Sun takes pity
on the repentant husband, so he sends raspberries first, then blueberries, and
then blackberries to the earth in an attempt to stop the woman. It is with the
strawberries—the final gift—that she stops.
“She knelt
down and plucked one and bit into it.
She had never tasted anything like it before. Its sweetness reminded her
how happy she and her husband had been together before they quarreled.”
As she gathers
some to take back to him, the man catches up.
He asks for her forgiveness. She
answers by sharing the sweet berries.
Evaluation
The story is
simple but beautiful. I read it for the first time several days ago, yet it has
stayed with me. I will never eat another strawberry without remembering this lovely
Cherokee tale. The soft watercolor illustrations compliment the narrative
perfectly.
The ending is
noteworthy: “To this day, when the Cherokee people eat strawberries, they are
reminded to always be kind to each other; to remember that friendship and
respect are as sweet as the taste of ripe, red berries.” The strawberry, also, reminds me of the power
of forgiveness and the importance of gratitude for the sweetness of life.
If you are teaching about Native American culture at home or in the classroom, I urge you to use this book as part of your lesson or unit plan. However, The First Strawberries is a powerful story on its own. I recommend picking up a copy to read for enjoyment, character building, or multicultural enrichment. The straightforward text is appropriate for ages 5 and up.
Joseph Bruchac has written many books highlighting the stories and culture of Native Americans. He represents a genuine voice of the culture.
If you are teaching about Native American culture at home or in the classroom, I urge you to use this book as part of your lesson or unit plan. However, The First Strawberries is a powerful story on its own. I recommend picking up a copy to read for enjoyment, character building, or multicultural enrichment. The straightforward text is appropriate for ages 5 and up.
Joseph Bruchac has written many books highlighting the stories and culture of Native Americans. He represents a genuine voice of the culture.
I've added this book to my library list. Having read in your post that you think of this story when you eat strawberries, I'm curious to read this Cherokee tale for myself.
ReplyDeleteI hope you love it as much as I do!
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting way to look at strawberries. There aren't enough books about the indigenous peoples so it's great to learn about this one. Thanks!
ReplyDelete