Description
The Legend of the Lady Slipper: An Ojibwe Tale is a well-researched children's book that retells a traditional Ojibwe legend about the creation of the spring flower known as the Lady Slipper. The story is set long ago in the northern woods of Minnesota where there was an Ojibwe village. A young girl lived with extended family in this village. One winter the people of the village slowly succumbed to a terrible illness. One by one the villagers fell ill until only the young girl remained healthy. Fortunately they knew a neighbouring village had a healing herb but everyone was too ill to travel. The young girl told her family that she would go. In the heart of winter the girl set out and finally made it through a blizzard to the neighbouring village. There the community assisted her and provided the needed medicine. The girl set out for home immediately and found herself in deep snow drifts. Her knowledge of forest travel made her think of how animals free themselves from drifts. She was successful but in the process lost her warm rabbit fur-lined moccasins in the snow. Thinking only of her family the girl plunged on through the night. Cold and exhausted she stumbled over the icy snow crystals barefoot. Despite the pain the girl reached the village. Behind her was a blood-stained trail of her footprints. But her family and the other villagers welcomed the girl and the medicine. In the spring all had recovered and the girl and her brother went out to the forest to locate the girl's lost moccasins. In the spot where she lost the moccasins and along her trail grew wondrous and beautiful flowers. The dainty flowers were pink and white and looked exactly like the moccasins the girl had worn. This flower was called the moccasin flower by the Ojibwe people. Today it is known as the Lady Slipper. These delicate spring flowers remind us the courage and strength of a young Ojibwe girl who brought healing to her village. The story is illustrated in stylized and brightly coloured images. Some of the designs reflect Woodland floral beadwork although distinctive tribal clothing and setting are less clear. This is an excellent retelling of a traditional legend where the author has identified the original sources and also incorporates Ojibwe terms throughout the story. Reading Level: 3.9; ATOS Reading Level: 4.6; Lexile Measure: 610; K-3. Primary Spring 2012