BIBLOGRAPHY
Bruchac, Joseph and Ross, Gayle and Stroud, Virginia A. 1995. THE STORY OF THE MILKY WAY: A CHEROKEE TALE. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0-8037-1737-7.
PLOT SUMMARY
This story is a Cherokee folktale that has been passed down through the generations. It describes how most of the stars got into the sky. The story starts in the past when the Cherokee’s gathered large amounts of corn to sustain themselves through the winter. One morning an elderly couple discovers the lid of a basket knocked off and some of the corn meal had been taken. They are very upset and their grandson decides to wait in the forest that night and keep a vigil. What is sees startles him as it is an eerie light in the shape of a dog eating the cornmeal. He tells his family about the incident and they all go to the Beloved Woman, a leader in the tribe. She was wise and developed a plan. The entire town waited that night in the forest with their drums and rattles. When the spirit dog came to eat they made loud noises and chased him off. He leapt into the sky and everywhere the cornmeal landed became a star in the sky. The Cherokee call it” the place where the dog ran”. And that was the beginning of the Milky Way.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This story exhibits a concept that has been used for many years. The art of storytelling for the purpose of explanation. Many cultures have come up with stories to explain events that happened in nature or the world around them. The Native American culture has been known of treasuring Mother Earth and her blessings.
The clothing displayed in the illustrations is not what one would consider typical of Native American clothing. The people wore what looked like loomed cloth in many colors and patterns that had been cut and sewn together to make long dresses, pants, robes and turban looking hats for the men. Their hair was long on the women and short on the men with no braids. The text exhibited a storyline that I would consider a folktale passed along through time. It contained references to the wise woman and a spirit like dog. Their interactions along with the people of the village explain how so many stars got into the sky. The story was short and to the point without a lot of extra events that clouded the main purpose of the text.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Publisher’s Weekly – “With lyric simplicity this retelling of a Cherokee folktale posits an explanation for the origin of the Milky Way, at the same time stressing the merits of communal labor.”
Children’s Literature – “Great things can be accomplished when a community works together. This is the timeless message conveyed in this traditional Cherokee legend.”
School Library Journal – “Bruchac and Ross retell a Cherokee tale with simplicity and respect.”
Booklist – “Beautifully illustrated in Cherokee-Creek artist Stroud's signature style, this charming retelling of a traditional Cherokee legend will appeal to listeners young and old. Source notes and a brief history of the forced removal of the Cherokees, known as the Trail of Tears, are included.”
CONNECTIONS
Joseph Bruchac has written over seventy books for children and adults including fiction, poetry and folktales. This would be an excellent addition for an author study. Another choice would be to include this work with other folktales from different cultures.
Nelson Mandela –NELSON MANDELA’S FAVORITE AFRICAN FOLKTALES. ISBN-9780393329902
Jane Yolen- FAVORITE FOLKTALES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. ISBN-9780394751887
Peninnah Schram –THE HUNGRY CLOTHES AND OTHER JEWISH FOLKTALES. ISBN-9781402726514
Book cover image from Barnes and Noble website.
Bruchac, Joseph and Ross, Gayle and Stroud, Virginia A. 1995. THE STORY OF THE MILKY WAY: A CHEROKEE TALE. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0-8037-1737-7.
PLOT SUMMARY
This story is a Cherokee folktale that has been passed down through the generations. It describes how most of the stars got into the sky. The story starts in the past when the Cherokee’s gathered large amounts of corn to sustain themselves through the winter. One morning an elderly couple discovers the lid of a basket knocked off and some of the corn meal had been taken. They are very upset and their grandson decides to wait in the forest that night and keep a vigil. What is sees startles him as it is an eerie light in the shape of a dog eating the cornmeal. He tells his family about the incident and they all go to the Beloved Woman, a leader in the tribe. She was wise and developed a plan. The entire town waited that night in the forest with their drums and rattles. When the spirit dog came to eat they made loud noises and chased him off. He leapt into the sky and everywhere the cornmeal landed became a star in the sky. The Cherokee call it” the place where the dog ran”. And that was the beginning of the Milky Way.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This story exhibits a concept that has been used for many years. The art of storytelling for the purpose of explanation. Many cultures have come up with stories to explain events that happened in nature or the world around them. The Native American culture has been known of treasuring Mother Earth and her blessings.
The clothing displayed in the illustrations is not what one would consider typical of Native American clothing. The people wore what looked like loomed cloth in many colors and patterns that had been cut and sewn together to make long dresses, pants, robes and turban looking hats for the men. Their hair was long on the women and short on the men with no braids. The text exhibited a storyline that I would consider a folktale passed along through time. It contained references to the wise woman and a spirit like dog. Their interactions along with the people of the village explain how so many stars got into the sky. The story was short and to the point without a lot of extra events that clouded the main purpose of the text.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Publisher’s Weekly – “With lyric simplicity this retelling of a Cherokee folktale posits an explanation for the origin of the Milky Way, at the same time stressing the merits of communal labor.”
Children’s Literature – “Great things can be accomplished when a community works together. This is the timeless message conveyed in this traditional Cherokee legend.”
School Library Journal – “Bruchac and Ross retell a Cherokee tale with simplicity and respect.”
Booklist – “Beautifully illustrated in Cherokee-Creek artist Stroud's signature style, this charming retelling of a traditional Cherokee legend will appeal to listeners young and old. Source notes and a brief history of the forced removal of the Cherokees, known as the Trail of Tears, are included.”
CONNECTIONS
Joseph Bruchac has written over seventy books for children and adults including fiction, poetry and folktales. This would be an excellent addition for an author study. Another choice would be to include this work with other folktales from different cultures.
Nelson Mandela –NELSON MANDELA’S FAVORITE AFRICAN FOLKTALES. ISBN-9780393329902
Jane Yolen- FAVORITE FOLKTALES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. ISBN-9780394751887
Peninnah Schram –THE HUNGRY CLOTHES AND OTHER JEWISH FOLKTALES. ISBN-9781402726514
Book cover image from Barnes and Noble website.
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