Status
Available
Call number
Call number
398.2 Bru
Local notes
398.2 Bru
Collection
Genres
Publication
Dial (1995), Edition: 1st, Hardcover, 32 pages
Description
When cornmeal is stolen from an elderly couple, the others in a Cherokee village find a way to drive off the thief, creating the Milky Way in the process.
Subjects
Awards
Aesop Prize (Accolade — 1996)
Language
Physical description
32 p.; 10.83 inches
User reviews
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
An old couple find that someone has been stealing from their cornmeal bin, in this traditional Cherokee tale, and are terribly distressed - after all, who would steal from the elderly? Their grandson, determined to solve the mystery, lies in wait one night, and discovers that a great spirit dog is
An engaging pourquoi tale, which explains the existence of the Milky Way - created when the spirit dog, chased into the sky by the people, dropped bits of cornmeal in the course of his flight - this picture-book by Joseph Bruchac (Abenaki) and Gayle Ross (Cherokee) is sure to please young folklore lovers, particularly those who enjoy tales about the stars! The accompanying acrylic illustrations by Virginia A. Stroud (Cherokee-Creek), are quite beautiful, and although the stylized human figures aren't really to my taste, the deep color, and overall effect of the paintings, is quite pleasing. All in all, The Story of the Milky Way is a winner - an excellent story-hour selection!
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the culprit! Unsure of how to rid themselves of this supernatural thief, the people turn to Beloved Woman, a wise elder...An engaging pourquoi tale, which explains the existence of the Milky Way - created when the spirit dog, chased into the sky by the people, dropped bits of cornmeal in the course of his flight - this picture-book by Joseph Bruchac (Abenaki) and Gayle Ross (Cherokee) is sure to please young folklore lovers, particularly those who enjoy tales about the stars! The accompanying acrylic illustrations by Virginia A. Stroud (Cherokee-Creek), are quite beautiful, and although the stylized human figures aren't really to my taste, the deep color, and overall effect of the paintings, is quite pleasing. All in all, The Story of the Milky Way is a winner - an excellent story-hour selection!
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LibraryThing member TeacherLibrarian
Bruchac, Joseph and Ross, Gayle. The Story of the Milky Way, A Cherokee Tale. (1995). New York. Dial Books For Young Readers.
This retelling if a Cherokee folktale is set “long ago when the world was new.” It was so long ago that there were few stars in the sky. The grandson of an old man and
Younger elementary students will like this how-the-Milky-Way-came-to-be story. It is simple but interesting, and the illustrations are detailed and use vivid colors. What’s unique about it is that it is an old woman to whom the people turn for help and who solve the problem, showing the import to the Cherokee of the elders and of wise women.
This retelling if a Cherokee folktale is set “long ago when the world was new.” It was so long ago that there were few stars in the sky. The grandson of an old man and
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old woman discovers that light in the shape of a huge dog has been stealing some of their cornmeal, which they need to keep from starving. He tells the people, but they don’t know what to do, so they go to a leader of their group, the Beloved Woman, who is old and wise. Following her advice, everyone brings their drums and rattles to the cornmeal bin and when the dog returns, they make a great noise. Frightened, he runs away and jumps into the sky. He keeps running until he disappears, but behind him in the sky he leaves a trail of cornmeal that has fallen from his mouth. The corn turns into stars and that trail is called by the Cherokee Gil’liutsun stanun’yi, the place where the dog ran, which we know as the Milky Way.Younger elementary students will like this how-the-Milky-Way-came-to-be story. It is simple but interesting, and the illustrations are detailed and use vivid colors. What’s unique about it is that it is an old woman to whom the people turn for help and who solve the problem, showing the import to the Cherokee of the elders and of wise women.
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LibraryThing member edeidrich
This mystical Cherokee origin story of the wonderous sights of ancient skies is presented with an illustrative style that matches the text's supernatural nature. As a thieving dog makes off with a couple's cornmeal supply, the tribe elder plans an enchantive trap which results in the star-lit
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mosaic of our galaxy in the night sky. The artistic approach seemingly matches the simplistic essence of the traditional tale. A terrific interdisciplinary tie-in to a Science lesson on outer space. Show Less
LibraryThing member HannahRevard
This is a re-telling of an old Cherokee tale of how the Milky Way came to be. I enjoyed the text, but not the illustrations.
LibraryThing member mcnicol_08
Native American myth that tells a tale of how the Milky Way Galaxy was created through a community coming together to scare away a spirit dog that was stealing food from the elders of the tribe. This is a great story to share the Cherokee Indian tribe's culture, because the illustrator is a member
The meaning of this story is important for children as it teaches children the significance of a community coming together to improve the livelihood of members. This story also teaches young students to respect their elders. This book could be incorporated into safety in the community lesson for young students, and a fun lesson on the galaxy for older students.
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of the Cherokee Nation and uses her knowledge of the tribe's culture, such as the clothing of the characters, in her illustrations.The meaning of this story is important for children as it teaches children the significance of a community coming together to improve the livelihood of members. This story also teaches young students to respect their elders. This book could be incorporated into safety in the community lesson for young students, and a fun lesson on the galaxy for older students.
Show Less
LibraryThing member kdufrene
This story talks about an elderly couple who has their cornmeal stolen throughout the night. Their grandson was very devastated to hear this news and spent the night watching to see who stolen it. As the boy discovers that it is a spirit animal, he tells the people in the village and the leader
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believes him and the village people offer to watch as night falls. As the people watch the spirit animal take the cornmeal again they scare it off with drums and shaking their rattles. The spirit dog runs into the sky as the cornmeal turns into stars. This is how the Milky Way is formed. I would read this story to my students to deepen their understanding of folktales. Show Less
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Pages
32