THE FIRST STRAWBERRIES: A CHEROKEE STORY

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bruchac, Joseph. 1993. THE FIRST STRAWBERRIES: A CHEROKEE STORY. Ill. by Anna Vojtech. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0803713312

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

In this story Joseph Bruchac retells the Cherokee legend of the origin of the first strawberries. A man and woman were created for one another and lived happily on the land the creator had given them. One day the woman is distracted by the beauty of flowers, and her husband becomes angry because she has not prepared any food. Angry and hurt, the woman runs away. Guided by the sun, the man goes after her. The sun helps the man catch up to the woman by causing a variety of berries to grow along her path. However, the woman does not pause for any of the beautiful berries until a patch of strawberries springs up. The woman shares the sweet strawberries with her husband and the two are able to resolve their anger towards one another. The story serves to remind the Cherokee people to always cherish kindness and friendship.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

A fast moving plot makes this book a quick and easy read. The reader almost feels as though he or she is running along with the woman as she passes each new berry patch. The reader gains a sense of the woman's urgency when Bruchac states, "The berries were ripe and looked good to eat, but the woman paid no attention to them and continued walking." Readers can easily identify with the characters because feelings of anger, hurt, and remorse are experienced universally. When the woman says, "Your words hurt me," it is easy to identify with the pain and anger she is feeling towards her husband. The setting in nature and an emphasis on flowers, sun, and berries reflect the value placed on nature by the Cherokee people. Bruchac uses vivid diction to describe the berries such as "plump" and "glistening." The use of figurative language in similes such as, "they glowed like fire in the grass" helps the reader visualize the beauty found in nature.

The theme reminds the reader to treasure and value friendship and kindness. The theme is clearly stated when the husband seeks his wife's forgiveness "and she answered him by sharing the sweetness of the strawberries." The reader is reminded both of the literal sweetness tasted in a strawberry as well the figurative sweetness found in a happy relationship.

Anna Vojtech uses watercolors to create realistic depictions of the beauty found in nature. The use of watercolors creates a hazy, dreamlike background setting such as rolling hills or blazing sunsets. Two page illustrations are dedicated to capturing the beauty and grandeur of lush landscapes. During the argument between the man and woman, Vojtech emphasizes their faces rather than the landscape, allowing the reader to experience the heated emotions. Vojtech positively represents the Cherokee culture by devoting a majority of the illustrations to the beauty found in nature. Furthermore, her simple and realistic illustrations avoid a stereotypical portrayal of Native Americans. For example, the characters dress in plain animal skin clothing with minimal accessories. Finally, Vojtech uses earth tones, such as tan and brown, to create illustrations of the land, characters, and surroundings. In contrast, bright colors, such as yellow, blue, purple, and red, are used for the berries and flowers. This use of color highlights the importance of nature and vegetation among the Cherokee people.

4. PERSONAL RESPONSE: STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

Strengths of this book include an engaging plot. The reader is instantly engaged because he or she wants to learn about the origin of the first strawberries. A specific weakness may be the simplicity of the story. An author's note states that even though Bruchac had heard this legend before, he consulted Cherokee storytellers to help him grasp the story. Perhaps the story might include greater detail had an original storyteller, like the ones Bruchac consulted, actually written the text.

5. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

"Bruchac … once again brings simplicity and lyricism to his interpretation of Native American legend." (PUBLISHERS WEEKLY)

"Complete harmony of text and pictures: altogether lovely." (KIRKUS REVIEWS)

 6. CONNECTIONS

*Share other Cherokee legends by Bruchac such as THE STORY OF THE MILKYWAY: A CHEROKEE TALE (ISBN 0803717377)

*Students can create their own story about the origin of something found in nature.

*Allow students to sample the different berries as the story is being read aloud to connect the literature to the sense of taste.