The First Strawberries

Summary of Book

This legend explains the origins of strawberries, grown by the sun to help the first man and woman patch a quarrel. Long ago, the first man and woman quarrelled. The woman left in anger, but the Sun sent tempting berries to Earth to slow the wife's retreat. Luminous paintings perfectly complement this simple, lyrical text.

Author Biography

Joseph Bruchac is a highly acclaimed children's book author, poet, novelist and storyteller, as well as a scholar of Native American culture. Coauthor with Michael Caduto of the bestselling Keepers of the Earth series, Bruchac's poems, articles and stories have appeared in hundreds of publications, from Akwesasne Notes and American Poetry Review to National Geographic and Parabola. He has authored many books for adults and children including Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two, Skeleton Man, and The Heart of a Chief.

Illustrator Biography

Anna Vojtech has illustrated many books for children, including “The First Strawberries”, “Blow Away Soon” and "The Song of the Camels". She has illustrated “Ten Flashing Fireflies” which was awarded a Gold Medal by NPPA. "Tough Beginnings" was chosen by SSLI as the Best Book for Science for Children. Anna's interpretation of the nursery rhyme “Over in the Meadow” has been published in seven languages. Her botanical paintings were published as "Wild Flowers for All Seasons".

In her illustrations, Anna combines her love for painting, for storytelling, and for nature.