Tuesday, March 24, 2009

The Legend of Sleeping Bear: Traditional Literature - Legend


The Legend of Sleeping Bear, written by Kathy-jo Wargin and illustrated by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press with print and binding in Canada by Friesens, Altona, Manitoba
Pages: 50
Genre: Traditional Literature, Legend, Picture Book
Rating: Thumbs Up!!
This is the legend of a mother black bear of Wisconsin and her two cubs. A fire starts from a stike of lightening and the bears must seek safety in the waters of Lake Michigan. The mother attempts to swim across with her two cubs, but only she survives.
As the legend goes on to tell, she waits so long on the beach for her cubs that she becomes the overlooking hill. Finally, the forces of nature feel her pain and her two cubs reveal themselves as islands, overlooked by the mother bear hill. Currently these islands are known as the Manitou Islands.
I had never heard this legend and found it to be very creative and thoughful. It was interesting to hear of a story that comes from landforms in North America and made me curious to seek out more. I rated this legend a "Thumbs Up!!"

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