Two Bear Cubs: A Miwok Legend from California's Yosemite Valley Retold by Robert D. San Souci

Summary

Two Bear Cubs by Robert D. San Souci is an old story from the Miwok Native American tribe of California. It's about two little bear cubs who are playing in the river near their mother. She leaves them to go find some berries and the cubs decide to take a nap because they are worn out from playing so hard. They find a nice boulder in the sun to sleep on and dry off in the hot sun. As they slept the rock grew bigger and bigger, this went on for many days and nights. While the rock was growing, the mother bear noticed her cubs were missing so she started searching for them and couldn't find them anywhere. She got the help of Mother Deer, Badger, Gray Fox, Mountain Lion, and White-footed Mouse but the cubs were no where to be found. Finally, Red Hawk flew down from high in the sky and told Mother Bear that her cubs were at the very top of the mountain fast asleep. Mother Bear got the help of all the animals to try and make it to the top of the mountain to wake up her cubs. No one could make it very far because the mountain was so steep. Even Mountain Lion had a hard time digging her claws in to climb. An inch worm shows up and says that he can get to the top of the mountain to bring the little cubs down and everyone laughed at him. They said if we we can't make it up there than how can a little inch worm do it? But since they had no other option they let him climb. Using the thread that he can spin, he marked a trail for his way back down. It took him many days and nights but he finally made it up to the top and the little cubs were still sleeping. He woke them and when they realized where they were they started to cry. He told them not to worry, he has marked a safe way down. Slowly he helped the cubs climb down the mountain and they were reunited with their mother.

Evaluation

I think this story is a great one to read to kids because it teaches them that it doesn't matter how big or small you are, you can do anything if you set your mind to it. It teaches them not to underestimate someone else based on what you see on the outside. It is a great story and has great illustrations.

Bruh Rabbit and the Tar Baby Girl by Virginia Hamilton

Summary

Bruh Rabbit and the Tar Baby Girl by Virginia Hamilton is about a rabbit who is always up to no good. In this story, Bruh Rabbit decides he doesn't want to do any work planting in the field, instead he sneaks out at night and steals crops from Bruh Wolf. Bruh Wolf tries all sorts of things to try and deter Bruh Rabbit from stealing his food, but to no avail. One day Bruh Wolf comes up with an idea to make a girl rabbit out of tar, this way when Bruh Rabbit sees it, he will try and get the attention of the girl rabbit and he will get stuck when he touches her. This is exactly what happened. Bruh Rabbit was stuck in the tar by his hands, his feet, and even his chin! Bruh Wolf comes along bragging that he finally caught Bruh Rabbit. He tells Bruh Rabbit that he ought to throw him into the briars. Bruh Rabbit begs him not to, so naturally, that's exactly what Bruh Wolf does. When Bruh Rabbit lands in the briar patch he yells back to Bruh Wolf that he has lived in the briars all his life, thank you. Briar Rabbit escaped to cause mischief again.

Evaluation

I really enjoyed reading this story. I know I say that about every book but it's true! I love the watercolor illustrations and the Gullah speech included in the story, even though sometimes it was a little hard to understand. There's an 'About This Book' section in the back that explains where this story came from and also the definitions for the Gullah words which made it much easier. I liked the story of Bruh Rabbit and I remember the Disney version from when I was a kid. The only thing I wondered was why Bruh Rabbit gets away in the end with no repercussion. After reading the 'About This Book' section I learned that during slave times, the slaves telling these stories,  identified with Bruh Rabbit because small and helpless compared to the other animals, just like they were. I could see after that why Bruh Rabbit got the best of Bruh Wolf, because that is what you need to do to survive.

Cendrillon by Robert D. San Souci

Summary

Cendrillon is a Caribbean cinderella story. It unique in that it is told from the Godmother's point of view. It starts off as the Godmother tells a little background information of how her mother had left her a wand that could turn something into anything by tapping it three times. It could only be used on those you loved and the effects were only temporary. The Godmother then starts telling the story of the birth of her Goddaughter Cendrillon. Cendrillon's mother died when she was just a baby. Her father remarried and they had another daughter together named Vitaline. As Vitaline got older, she and her mother treated Cendrillon poorly. She was stuck doing all of the cleaning and all of the laundry. One day Cendrillon tells her Godmother that she is upset because there is a ball that evening and she can't go because of all the work she has to do at home. The Godmother tells her that there's nothing to worry about, she will go to the ball that night. After Cendrillon's family leaves for the ball, the Godmother takes out her wand and she taps three times on Cendrillon and makes her a beautiful dress with beautiful slippers. She also makes her a coach to ride in, with horses and a coachman. Just like in Cinderella, Cendrillon goes to the ball, dances with Paul, Monsieur Thiboult's son and when the clock strikes midnight she dashes away leaving only a shoe. Paul searches all over for the owner to the show and when he finds Cendrillon the get married and live happily ever after.

Evaluation

I thought that there was not enough difference between Cendrillon and Cinderella. I have read other Cinderella stories and they all differ slightly in the story, but this one was pretty much the same with the names of the characters change. I still enjoyed reading this story. My favorite thing about this story is that it is told from the Godmother's perspective which gives the story a whole new feeling. 

Puss in Boots by Charles Perrault

Summary

Puss in Boots by Charles Perrault is a story about a boy whose father dies and he leaves his three sons his possessions, a mill, a donkey and a cat. The oldest son gets his mill, the second gets the donkey and the youngest gets the cat. The youngest is upset because his brothers will be able to make decent livings off of their inheritance but after he eats the car and uses its fur, there will be nothing left. The cat tells the boy that he will make it so that his life will turn out better than his brothers in the end. He then asks the boy for him to buy a pair of boots and a sack. Once puss in boots has his things, he sets out to make the boy noticed by the king. He tricks the king into thinking that the boy is the Marquis of Carabas. He brings him game from the Marquis to get his name out there. One day when the king is driving by, puss tells the boy to go swimming in the river and puss tells the king that the Marquis of Carabas is drowning. After being saved, puss spins more of his lies and the king ends up marrying his daughter off to the boy. So now, he and puss get to live in a castle and puss in boots' work is done.

Evaluation

I really enjoyed reading this story. I was somewhat familiar with the tale before reading it but now I have a greater understanding of it. I loved the illustrations done by Fred Marcellino, they are beautiful. I was expecting Puss to get caught in the end but was pleasantly surprised when he didn't and he was successful in his endeavor.