Book Review: Turtle's Race with Beaver

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