The First Strawberries, A Cherokee Story

Bruchac, J., & Vojtech, A. (2013). The first strawberries: A Cherokee story. Columbus, O.H: Zaner-Bloser. ISBN 0803713312


PLOT SUMMARY
The First Strawberries by Joseph Bruchac is a Cherokee legend about how strawberries were created. At the beginning of time, the first Native American man and woman were created. They eventually married and lived happily ever after or so they thought! One day, the man came home to no dinner and got mad at his wife because he was hungry. The woman did not like how rude and disrespectful her husband was to her, as a result, she walks away from him. The man thought that he would be just fine until he starts to miss his beautiful wife. The Sun notices how heartbroken the man is and decides to help him. The Sun’s bright rays create sweet berries along the woman’s path, that does not seem to stop her and she continues to furiously walk. The Sun doesn’t give up and shines his rays brighter on the soil which led to the first creation of delicious strawberries. The sight of this rare creations stops the furious woman in her tracks and as soon as she tastes them her anger disappears. She decides to gather some strawberries and return home to her husband. Thanks to nature they both learn a valuable lesson of respect and forgiveness.


CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The First Strawberries will remind readers of the biblical ages when Adam and Eve were created. After reading this book, readers will learn the true “sweet” meaning of love, respect, and forgiveness. There are many cultural markers that are embedded throughout this picture book.Before opening the book, the title reveals to readers that this is a Cherokee tale. Vojtech does an amazing job adding meaning to the text with the beautiful two-page illustrations. 

Through text and illustrations, readers will notice how significant nature is to the Native American culture. For example, the Sun is comparable to a God who is the creator of berries! In addition, readers are able to see the authentic clothing that Cherokee Indians wear such as a long robe made of some type of animal skin and moccasins for their footwear. The realistic illustrations, also reveal to readers the skin tone and hair texture of Cherokee Indians. Lastly, young readers will explore the gender roles in the Cherokee Indian tribe. Although the wife did not have a hard job, she still had an important role in her marriage. Without the wife, the husband had no backbone and became broken!


REVIEW EXCERPTS
Horn Book Guide starred (March, 1994)“The brief, readable story, accompanied by strong and spare illustrations, carries a valuable message about friendship and respect.”

Kirkus Reviews starred (1993)“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; ”

Connections
Check out this lesson that goes along with this book!!
https://www.strongnations.com/inc/files/lesson-plan-the-first-strawberries.pdf