"Every Hero Has A Story." My Blogging From A to Z theme bridges the summer library reading programs throughout the U.S. with storytelling opportunities, ideas, and activities.
Illustrated by Davina Jones
When it comes to storytelling and the reading of stories, heroes come in all forms, including birds. How often have I gone for a morning jog or walking my dog and noticed at least 30 birds at one time sitting on the telephone lines along my street just talking away. You can't tell me that they aren't storytelling - they're not bird brains. Here's a wonderful Native American creation myth from the Lenape Tribe, also known as the Delaware Indians.
Rainbow Crow (Lenni Lenape Tribe): This legend from the Lenape Indian tribe, is about a crow who bravely rescues forest animals from the snow storm that promised to bury them. Wise Owl chose Rainbow Crow for this arduous journey. He's voice was enchanting and his feathers were of all colors glistening in the sun's rays. With his voice, Rainbow Crow summoned the Creator out to solve this freezing delemma. A blazing, glowing fire burned on a stick given to Crow. This fire stick was to be flown to Earth quickly before the stick burned up. This journey caused Rainbow's feathers to catch on fire and turn black and the smoke strangled his beautiful singing voice. Rainbow Crow did save the animals of the earth and warmed them with the fire but sacrificed much. The Creator and animals never forgot and honor crow - the hoarse voice prevents man from putting him into a cage to sing and men won't eat crow because the creator made his flesh taste of smoke. He would always be free.
Artist: Everett Athorp Added bonus: I couldn't leave this post without mentioning another winged hero tale: Raven Brings Fresh Water, retold by Fran Martin in From Sea to Shining Sea: A Treasury of American Folklore and Folk Songs, compiled by Amy L. Cohn. Another creation story from the Pacific Northwest. Raven, who is more times than not, a trickster, but in this tale, he saves the people from dying of thirst.
Resources
| rainbow-crow-study-guide.pdf |
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