First Woman and the Strawberry: A Cherokee Legend (Native American Legends)

Tells the story of an argument between First Man and First Woman and how the first strawberry was created

Grade 3-6-Each tape features a story from a Native American tribe, a brief account of the tribe's culture and history, and a glossary of terms. The two distinctly different delivery styles of the narrators reflect the wide range of moods conveyed in this collection of legends. Mara DeMey's soft voice fits the gentleness of the stories which describe the character's love for the earth, while the highly animated performance that Peter Thomas delivers is appropriate for the briskly paced adventure tales. The background animal sounds in each story give listeners the sensation of being close to nature. The paperback books feature boldly colored illustrations. Elementary school teachers and students will find this collection informative and entertaining.
Mark P. Tierney, William B. Wade Elementary School, Waldorf, MD
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Long ago First Man and First Woman of the Cherokees lived happily in the green forest, among colorful birds and fish-filled ponds. One spring day they disagreed about which path to take, and First Woman grew very angry. She went her own way. "What do I care?" First Man asked himself. Soon he saw it was a silly fight; he ran after her but could not catch up. The Great Spirit intervened and first put out grapes, then wild cherries, then huckleberry bushes to tempt First Woman to slow down. She ignored them all. So he created a new berry, red, irresistibly delicious and growing close to the ground. It worked! After First Woman had stopped to eat her fill, she soon ran to seek First Man. "Are you still angry?" Great Spirit asked her. "No, the sweetness of these berries has reminded me of the sweetness of our love." When she found her husband, they shared the wonderful berry, anger forgotten. Since that time strawberries have always been there to remind them and their children of their mutual love. The book offers a dozen more illustrated pages of actual Cherokee history, including the Cherokee syllabary published by Sequoyah in 1821. The courage of the Cherokee against enduring mistreatment, their present unity and high hopes suggest that maybe--against much evidence--it really was that wise people who first found strawberries!