An old tale of Texas
Retold & Illustrated by: Tomie DePaola
I've always been a fan of Tomie DePaola and I was interested to read this legend about how Texas got the bluebonnet flower. The story involves an Indian girl from the Comanche tribe. It had been a long and harsh winter and there was still not any rain. The Comanche people prayed to the Great Spirits asking what was needed in order to get some rainfall. The people must make a sacrifice of a most prized possession. A warrior did not want to give up his new bow and arrow and a woman did not want to give up a blanket.
A young girl named, She-Who-Is-Alone, ended up sacrificing her doll. This was a very special doll. It was the only item she had left after her parents and grandparents died from a famine. She, a child, made the ultimate sacrifice. Where the ashes of her burned doll had been spread, there was now beautiful bluebonnet flowers. Her people rejoiced and renamed her One-Who-Dearly-Loved-Her-People.
This legend had a great moral. Even though the main purpose was to tell how Texas got the bluebonnets, I think there's an even deeper meaning. People should be more willing to do for other people and not just themselves. This child (not even an adult) was unbelievably unselfish in giving away something she truly cared about for the sake of her people.
There's an author's note in the back of this book and DePaola states, "She-Who-Is-Alone's act of thrusting her beloved doll into the fire to save her people represents the decisive sort of action that many young people are capable of, the kind of selfless action that creates miracles." This is why I love legends and fables. I love the deeper meanings.
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