Review of FIRST STRAWBERRIES

Bruchac, Joseph. 1993. THE FIRST STRAWBERRIES: A CHEROKEE STORY. Illustrated by Anna Vojtech. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0803713320.

PLOT SUMMARY
In the beginning of the world, the Creator made a man and woman to live together. The husband and wife live happily for many years, until one day the man returns home to find his wife picking flowers instead of preparing his meal. Angry, the man speaks sternly to his wife, who decides to leave. Immediately the husband regrets his harsh words and tries to catch his wife, but she is running too fast. The sun takes pity on the man and decides to grow several tempting fruits to stop the woman. Finally, red, ripe strawberries entice the woman to stop running. After eating some sweet strawberries, the wife picks more for her husband. When he catches up to her, the two forgive each other and enjoy the berries. Strawberries still remind the Cherokee people to always be kind to one another.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
Bruchac and Vojtech have created a beautiful retelling of this traditional Cherokee folktale. Both artists employ a variety of cultural markers to authenticate their picture book. This tale of how strawberries came into the world offers a glimpse into the culture of this particular Native American tribe.

Bruchac originally heard this story from a Cherokee elder and appreciated its respectful lesson. As a member of the Abenaki tribe, Bruchac has written many Native American stories for children and young adults. His publishing company in Greenfield, New York specializes in authentic Native American literature. In his author’s note, Bruchac mentions consulting several Cherokee friends to ensure the accuracy of the story and help him “understand the story well enough to tell it.”

Although Bruchac does not use any Cherokee language in the text of the story, there are a few cultural clues that help the reader identify this story as Native American. The author mentions the couple living off the land, but the direct assistance of the sun lets children know that this is a creation folktale. The sun grows four types of fruit, which is a Native American motif. At the conclusion of the tale, the author also states that the Cherokee people of today still remember to be kind when they eat strawberries.

In a picture book, the illustrations play an equal, if not larger, role in storytelling. Vojtech’s vivid watercolor and color pencil illustrations complement and extent the text to create a memorable literary and visual experience. Through the pictures, children can identify this story as a Native American folktale. The husband and wife have authentic facial features and skin tone. Their clothing is an accurate representation of traditional Cherokee attire. Both the man and woman wear their hair long, with the wife’s braided. Even their home, cooking utensils, and surrounding vegetation are well researched. This is not Vojtech’s first experience illustrating a Native American picture book and several consultants were advised during the process.

Teachers and librarians looking for an authentic Cherokee folktale for their collection will be pleased with this choice. Joseph Bruchac is a respected Native American author with an impressive body of work. Readers can be confident that his books are accurate and culturally sensitive.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Publishers Weekly writes, “Spare text, an uncomplicated story line and gentle illustrations keep this quiet but resonant tale accessible to even the youngest child.”

Kirkus Reviews raves, “Quietly luminous watercolors capture details of dress, dwelling, implements, flora, and fauna against an open landscape of rolling hills. Small touches dramatize the story's moods: a bouquet of brown-eyed Susans flung to the ground in anger; an empty nest in a pine tree as the woman disappears behind the western hills; the glimmer of a single firefly as man and wife are reconciled. Complete harmony of text and pictures: altogether lovely.”

Reviews accessed at:
http://www.amazon.com/First-Strawberries-Picture-Puffin/dp/0140564098

CONNECTIONS
Other books for children written by Joseph Bruchac:
BETWEEN EARTH & SKY: LEGENDS OF NATIVE AMERICAN SACRED PLACES. Illustrated by Thomas Locker. ISBN 0152020624
HOW CHIPMUNK GOT HIS STRIPES. Illustrated by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey. ISBN 0142500216
SACAJAWEA. ISBN 0439280680
THE ARROW OVER THE DOOR. Illustrated by James Watling. ISBN 0141305711
THIRTEEN MOONS ON TURTLE’S BACK. Illustrated by Thomas Locker. ISBN 0698115848

Submitted by Kim