Bruchac, Joseph and James Bruchac. 2001. HOW CHIPMUNK GOT HIS STRIPES. Illustrated by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey. New York: Dial Book for Young Readers.
Plot Summary
This tale told by a father and son duo present the story of Bear and Brown Squirrel. Both characters have follies and it is these follies that present problems for each. Even so, there is wisdom to be gained as the story unfolds. Join master storytellers recount the story of how chipmunk got his stripes.
Analysis
Joseph Bruchac comes together with his eldest son, James, to tell in print what they have heard many times in the past: the story of how the chipmunk got his stripes.
The book begins with Notes from the authors. Joseph Bruchac attest this is a story still widely told by Native American storytellers along the East Coast. His son, James recounts hearing it from his father many times as a child. For him the story took on its own form as he told it to young audiences and saw their reactions. The inclusion of the authors' sharing how dear this tale is to them, helps the reader attest to the validity of such a tale in Native American culture.
The story quickly entices the reader as we meet a bragging Bear. He claims to know that he is the biggest, strongest, and loudest Bear that can do anything. The outstanding storytelling comes into play as children will quickly want to recite, “Yes, I am,” after each of Bears affirmations.
In contrast to Bear we have Brown Squirrel with his small voice. Even though he has a small voice, he delivers a challenge to Bear. “Can you tell the sun not to rise tomorrow morning?”In several places through out the story, the storytellers draw the listeners in and invite them to join in. While both Bear and Brown Squirrel wait upon the sun, for example.
“The sun will not come up, humph!
The sun will not come up, humph!”
The book begins with Notes from the authors. Joseph Bruchac attest this is a story still widely told by Native American storytellers along the East Coast. His son, James recounts hearing it from his father many times as a child. For him the story took on its own form as he told it to young audiences and saw their reactions. The inclusion of the authors' sharing how dear this tale is to them, helps the reader attest to the validity of such a tale in Native American culture.
The story quickly entices the reader as we meet a bragging Bear. He claims to know that he is the biggest, strongest, and loudest Bear that can do anything. The outstanding storytelling comes into play as children will quickly want to recite, “Yes, I am,” after each of Bears affirmations.
In contrast to Bear we have Brown Squirrel with his small voice. Even though he has a small voice, he delivers a challenge to Bear. “Can you tell the sun not to rise tomorrow morning?”In several places through out the story, the storytellers draw the listeners in and invite them to join in. While both Bear and Brown Squirrel wait upon the sun, for example.
“The sun will not come up, humph!
The sun will not come up, humph!”
The sun is going to rise, oooh!
The sun is going to rise, oooh!”
All the while, Bear is shown with enormous eyes, waiting upon the sun. It is no wonder a crowd of on-lookers quickly forms. To Bear’s dismay, the sun comes up.
Just when you think you understand that Bear is the foolish one, the story focuses on Brown Squirrel’s response. In Brown Squirrel’s excitement of the sun rising, he forgets his wise grandmother’s words, “It is good to be right about something. But when someone else is wrong, it is not a good idea to tease him.” The grandmother’s words serve to remind us – or in some cases, educate outsiders – of the high esteem placed on elders in Native American culture. Nevertheless, Brown Squirrel does not heed instruction and teases Bear, nearly costing him his life. As Brown Squirrel dives for the door to his home, Bear grabs for him and Bear’s sharp claw scratches Brown Squirrel’s back from the top of his head to the tip of his tail. Brown Squirrel is not Chipmunk, the striped one.
The story is able to hold the attention of younger children with the repetitive lines. Older children will also want to know the unfolding of the story. Does this story also tell us why Bear hibernates? Older children will be able to discuss what obvious lessons this tale intends the reader to understand. Can we relate that to our lives? How so?
The illustrators do a fantastic job of conjuring drawings that depict a great, mighty Bear and a tiny Brown Squirrel. In one drawing Bear stands and looks enormous, while we see a minuscule Brown Squirrel looking up. The drawings are simplistic, yet the emotions portrayed on the characters faces help tell the story.
While this is a clearly a cautionary tale, the authors write in a way that will maintain the readers and listeners attention. There is no romantic imagery that is stereotypical of Native American speech. The attention-getting storytelling, the illustrations that bring the tale to life and the story line that will keep readers engaged and listeners wanting to know what happens, proves this to be a book worthy to be in our collections.
Review Excerpts
"In their introductory authors' notes, the Bruchacs indicate that the story is an amalgam of tales they have heard from Cherokee, Abenaki, and Mohawk sources, and has further been fleshed out through their own telling over the years. The result is polished, cohesive, and energetic. While the story begs to be told, Aruego and Dewey's vibrantly hued trademark watercolors add significantly to the humor. A priority purchase for most collections." – From School Library Journal
"The Bruchacs translate the orality of the tale to written text beautifully, including dialogue that invites audience participation. Aruego and Dewey's (Mouse in Love, p. 886, etc.) signature cartoon-like illustrations extend the humor of the text perfectly."- From Kirkus Reviews
"The Bruchacs translate the orality of the tale to written text beautifully, including dialogue that invites audience participation. Aruego and Dewey's (Mouse in Love, p. 886, etc.) signature cartoon-like illustrations extend the humor of the text perfectly."- From Kirkus Reviews
Connections
Other Picture books by Joseph Bruchac include:
A Boy Called Slow
Between Earth and Sky
Crazy Horse's Vision
The Earth Under Sky Bear's Feet
The First Strawberries
Between Earth and Sky
Crazy Horse's Vision
The Earth Under Sky Bear's Feet
The First Strawberries
The Great Ball Game
Makiawisug: Gift of the Little People
The Maple Thanksgiving
Makiawisug: Gift of the Little People
The Maple Thanksgiving
Many Nations
Squanto's Journey
Squanto's Journey
The Story of the Milky Way
13 Moons on Turtle's Back
13 Moons on Turtle's Back
Turtle's Race with Beaver
Websites:
You Tube presentation of Into the Woods with James Bruchac
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