The Story of the Milky Way: A Cherokee Tale

Citation:

Bruchac, Joseph and Gayle Ross. 1995. The Story of the Milky Way: A Cherokee Tale. Ill. by Virginia A. Stroud. New York: Dial for Young Readers.

ISBN 9780803717374

Summary:

After an elderly couples’ cornmeal is stolen overnight, their grandson sets out to find the thief. He is shocked to discover a giant, glowing dog who comes at night to eat the cornmeal. The grandson asks the village to sneak up on the dog the next time it visits and make a great deal of noise in order to scare it away. The noise frightens the dog and in turn it runs into the sky leaving a trail of cornmeal behind it, thus forming the Milky Way.

Critical Analysis:

The Story of the Milky Way: A Cherokee Tale is a touching retelling of a traditional legend. Authors Joseph Bruchac and Gayle Ross include a factual page entitled The Origin of the Story before the tale begins outlining their personal introductions to the legend as well as explaining the addition of the grandson to this particular version. The importance of storytelling as it relates to numerous Native American tribes, including Cherokee, is apparent when the story begins with a father sharing this particular legend with his two children. The story is told simply and the Cherokee are adequately and authentically represented through the story telling.

Virginia A. Stroud provides original illustrations that are dynamic and accurate. Her illustrator’s note provides further insight into the period dress she includes in the book’s illustrations. Interestingly, character faces are expressionless, but traditional clothing and setting are true to life of the time. Women are depicted with long, black hair and are dressed in colorful, flowery dresses which were popular during the early 1800’s, the time Stroud has chosen to illustrate. The men don colorful robes and moccasins. Since corn is the predominate food of the time and tribe, the text explains this thoroughly and the illustrations provide a reliable representation of the corn and its preparation in large, decorative baskets. The large, star covered dog is one of the most impressive illustrations. A favorite is its final leap into the sky with the cornmeal trailing behind.

Review Excerpt(s):

“Stroud's distinctive, stylized acrylics harmoniously oppose starkly delineated characters with intricately patterned backgrounds.” ~Publisher’s Weekly, September, 1995

“It is accessible on many levels; it will hold the attention of young listeners, yet remain interesting to older readers.” ~ School Library Journal, 1995

Connections:

Bruchac, Joseph. 1993. The First Strawberries: A Cherokee Story. Ill. by Anna Vojtech. New York: Dial for Young Readers. ISBN 9780140564099

Oughton, Jerrie. 1992. How the Stars Fell into the Sky: A Navajo Legend. Ill. by Lisa Desimini. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0395779385

Classroom Activities:

Discuss Pourquoi stories and relate the discussion to The Story of the Milk Way: A Cherokee Tale. A good website for reference: http://rwtverio.ncte.org/lessons/lesson_view_printer_friendlyf843.html