The Legend of the Bluebonnet
by Tomie dePaola
DePaola, T. (1983). The
Legend of the Bluebonnet. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.
The people of the Comanche tribe are dying and so is the land. A drought has fallen upon them and famine is taking its toll. The shaman declares that the Great Spirits are tired of the selfishness of the people who continue to take from the Earth and not give anything back. The members of the tribe must make a burnt offering of their most prized possession to the spirits in order to restore life to the people. While the adults of the tribe continue to maintain their selfish ways, one little girl, She-Who-Is-Alone, knows what she must do. In an act of true selflessness she offers the Great Spirits her most valued possession, a warrior doll which is the only thing she has left from her family who are no longer with her. The pleased spirits express their forgiveness with rain and the beautiful bluebonnets who continue to bloom every spring.
Visual Element: Color
Evaluation Criteria: Cultural Markers
DePaola's use of color does a magnificent job of illustrating the setting and emphasizing the feel of Legend
of the Bluebonnet.
As the setting changes progressively from day to night, so too do the
colors of the sky. During the times of
drought, the colors of the land are very drab and dull, but after the forgiveness of
the Great Spirits the land comes alive with bright greens and blues symbolizing the joy of the people. The blue feathers on She-Who-Is-Alone's doll are significant in that they are reflected in the beauty of the bluebonnets.
Evaluation Criteria: Cultural Markers
It
is apparent that dePaola took great care in his research of this legend based
on Comanche Indian lore. Not simply
relying on generalizations and stereotypes, the story sheds light on this
ancient cultures’ belief in rituals, spirits and sacrifice. Through the illustrations that depict
traditional Comanche dress, housing, possessions and surroundings we can get a
real feel for life as a part of this tribe of people.
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