How Turtle's Back Was Cracked: A Traditional Cherokee Tale

by Gayle Ross

Book Overview

Long ago when all the creatures still spoke the same language, Turtle's back was smooth and shiny. Then one day a wolf tried to steal persimmons from Turtle and his best friend, Possum. It was Possum... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803717288
• ISBN13: 9780803717282
• Release Date: March 1995
• Publisher: Dial Books
• Length: 1 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.8" x 10.8"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Gayle Ross's "How Turtle's Back Was Cracked"

Hi! You can call me StoryMaker. Gayle Ross's descriptive version of a traditional folktale (How Turtle's Back Was Cracked) is great. This Cherokee myth explains why turtles have interesting patterns on their shells. Once, there was a turtle who was friends with a possum. Turtle and Possum shared persimmons (a kind of fruit) with each other. Possum would drop persimmons down into Turtle's mouth from a persimmon tree. One day, a wolf snatched the persimmons before they could enter Turtle's mouth. Possum decided that the wolf has got to go! Because Turtle closed his eyes while he opened his mouth, he assumed that he killed the wolf. Turtle goes to everyone's houses, bragging and showing them some wolf-ear spoons that he made and eating with them. Soon, Turtle gets into trouble! This book encouraged me to eat a persimmon. Persimmons really get your mouth fuzzy! This fun, descriptive book is great for all ages! However, all the way to the end of the book, Possum is the only one who knows who killed the wolf - no one discovers this secret. Plus, wolf ears attached to sticks probably wouldn't make good spoons - you might get earwax in your mouth. I like wolves, anyway. Overall, a good book for anyone who likes folktales. Signed, StoryMaker. "Gotta trust the kid's review!"

Learning Not to Boast

This book, which is based on an original Cherokee tale, is great! This book would be good for teachers to introduce and teach the moral lesson that being too boastful and bragging too much will lead to trouble. Back when all the animals could talk, Possum and Turtle were best friends. They both loved to eat persimmons. A greedy wolf decided to steal the persimmons from the friends one day, and Possum got angry so he slew the wolf. Turtle thinks he slew the thieving wolf, and he becomes too overconfident of his skill, as a mighty hunter. Turtle began to brag and boast to everyone that he had slain the mighty wolf. All his boasting soon lands Turtle into a heap of trouble with the rest of the wolves. Teachers could use the audio version of this book to help struggling readers develop better reading skills and become more fluent readers. Also, this book could be used during Buddy Reading activities. If the book is too challenging for one student, the teacher can pair that student together with a stronger reader, so together both of the students will be able to enjoy reading the book.

How the Turtle's Back was Cracked

I think How the Turtle's back was cracked is an excellent story! I loved it when I read it. It's for people who love folktales. It actually seemed as though it could really happen. I think if you like folktales or you just like animal stories you should really read this book.