The First Fire: A Cherokee Story

by Brad Wagnon, Alex Stephenson (Illustrator)

Overview

The First Fire, A Cherokee Story takes place in a time when animals could do many of the things that people do. The Creator gave the animals the world to live on, but they were without a source for heat at night. Great Thunder and his sons saw the plight of the animals so he sent lightning down to strike a tree. The tree burst into flames but the tree was on an island. Many animals tried to bring the fire over the water to the shore, but they were all unsuccessful. Then one small creature, Water Spider, volunteered. Curious, the animals said to her “We know you could get there safely, but how would you bring the fire back without getting burned?”

Water Spider was successful and to this day the water spider is revered in Cherokee culture.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781939053275
Publisher:	Book Publishing Company
Publication date:	08/27/2020
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.10(d)
Lexile:	AD720L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Brad Wagnon is a lifelong resident of the Gideon Community and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. He taught Cherokee history, culture, and language at Tahlequah High School in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, for 10 years. Brad currently works for Cherokee Nation Community and Cultural Outreach as a technical assistance specialist. He trains community leaders how to better serve their communities and manage nonprofits. Brad lives in Gideon, Oklahoma, with his wife, Tanya.

Alex Stephenson is a therapist, author, and artist. As is a licensed professional counselor, he has served as a therapist for the Cherokee Nation since 2014. Alex has written and illustrated books on friendship, acceptance, anxiety, and compassion with the goal of helping children and parents discuss difficult topics more comfortably. He lives in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, with his wife, Shelly, and their two children, Jaxon and Jade.

Editorial Reviews

The illustrations are cute... and the moral of the story rings true: no matter who you are, how insignificant you may feel, you can do great things. You can think of imaginative solutions and act on them. You can be a hero to yourself, and to your people.

Deborah Locke

★“According to Cherokee tradition, when the animals needed fire to keep them warm during cold nights, The Thunder Boys, invoke a lightning bolt to strike and light fire to a lone sycamore tree. Water Spider, a tiny savior, boldly creates an ingenious way to bring fire back to the animal community. Black-outlined characters have a friendly, Saturday morning–cartoon look that nevertheless carries the story’s gravitas well. A heartwarming tale of kinship and community.

starred review Kirkus Reviews

My kids and I absolutely love reading The First Fire. It’s a Cherokee story that I had shared with them many times, but this book brings the story to life. The illustrations are like a guide to our oral storytelling tradition. This is a book that remains on our nightstand, and is a go-to bedtime story for our family.

Jennifer Loren

Young listeners will be able to flip through the tale on their own, and enjoy the animals' adventures after the tale has been read. It's a great way to introduce Cherokee folklore and open the door to discussions. In other words, this one gets a nice thumbs up from me!

Bookworm for Kids blog

★ 2020-06-30
The animals need the fire, but how will they get it?

According to Cherokee tradition, when the animals needed fire to keep them warm during cold nights, Great Thunder and his sons, the Thunder Boys, invoke a lightning bolt to strike and light fire to a lone sycamore tree. Seeing that the tree is located on a tiny island in the middle of a lake, the animals have a meeting to decide how to bring the fire back across the water. Raven tries, but his white feathers are scorched black in his unsuccessful attempt. Screech Owl, Hoot Owl, and Horned Owl all try, but the smoke nearly blinds them, permanently affecting their eyes. Racer Snake and Great Black Snake are also unsuccessful. Finally Water Spider, a tiny savior, boldly creates an ingenious way to bring fire back to the animal community, the bowl she weaves with her silk to carry an ember back becoming a permanent marking on her back. Black-outlined characters have a friendly, Saturday morning–cartoon look that nevertheless carries the story’s gravitas well. Moments of humor—Racer Snake swimming with a comically determined look on his face—balance painful ones. The animals sitting in solemn counsel are a combination of recognizable North American critters and some that are not so familiar, emphasizing that this is a story of creation. Wagnon is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, and therapist Stephenson serves the Cherokee Nation.

A heartwarming tale of kinship and community. (Picture book/cosmology. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews