BOOK REVIEW: Turtle’s Race with Beaver: A Traditional Seneca Story
1.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bruchac, Joseph. 1942. TURTLE’S
RACE WITH BEAVER: A TRADITIONAL SENECA STORY.
Ill. by Joseph Aruego and Ariane Dewey.
New York: Puffin Books. ISBN 0142404667
2. PLOT SUMMARY
TURTLE’S RACE WITH BEAVER is a traditional moral tale from the
Seneca tribe. The specific animals in this tale are common to the Seneca
people. This folk tale is about a turtle who has a good home. When the turtle
is hibernating for Winter, a beaver comes along a takes over the area in the
absence of turtle. As turtle comes out of her slumber, she realizes a beaver
has taken over. Both animals are unwilling to give up any part of the pond, so
they agree on a race to determine the pond’s owner. The turtle concludes that
she will probably not win the race and regain her home due to the beaver being
bigger and faster. They start the race and the turtle latches on to the beaver’s
tail. As they are close to the finish line, turtle chomps on beaver’s tail and
beaver launches him across the pond to the victory. In the end, turtle offers
to share the pond with beaver, but he refuses due to his embarrassment from
losing. As he finds a new home, there is another turtle, but this turtle is
willing to share their pond with the beaver.
3.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This story teaches moral lessons of greed, sharing and honesty
with the reader. The dialogue is an interesting way to keep the story flowing
and focused on the characters. This folktale doesn’t end as I would’ve expected
it you and extends to model how the story could’ve ended if these aspects of
greed didn’t exist. This story is a comparable tale to The Tortoise and the Hare.
The illustrations are simple, colorful, and very telling in
action. The illustrator does a great job of showing the character’s expressions.
4.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
KIRKUS REVIEWS: “The
artists’ trademark energy-filled pen-and-ink and gouache illustrations enhance
the tale with color and humor. Each animal bursts with personality in this sure
winner.”
GOODREADS REVIEW: “Turtle's
Race with Beaver by Joseph Bruchac
Is your typical story of the weaker
but wiser animal winning in a race. This story has been passed down as an oral
story within many of the Native American storytellers. This is a great story to
share with any age level and can be used to teach multiple concepts.”
5.
CONNECTIONS
*You
could compare this book to other similar folktales:
THE
TORTOISE AND THE HARE: AN AESOP FABLE ISBN: 0823405109
THE LION AND THE MOUSE ISBN: 0316013560
CHICKEN LITTLE ISBN: 1596434643
Based
on a review by Barbara Jean Thompson
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