Suggested levels for Guided Reading, DRA,™ Lexile,® and Reading Recovery™ are provided in the Pearson Scott Foresman Leveling Guide.

GenreComprehension

Skills and Strategy

Myth • Plot and Theme• Main Idea• Monitor and Clarify

Scott Foresman Reading Street 2.4.5

Rainbow Crow

Brings Fire to Earth

A Lenni-Lenape Tribal Myth

retold by Jeri CiprianoIllustrated by Micha Archer

ISBN-13:ISBN-10:

978-0-328-50859-40-328-50859-4

9 7 8 0 3 2 8 5 0 8 5 9 4

9 0 0 0 0

50859_CVR.indd Page A-B 5/28/09 5:20:21 PM EL-Hi5-017 /Volumes/104/SF00327/work%0/indd%0/SF_RE_TX:NL_L...

Note: The total word count includes words in the running text and headings only. Numerals and words in chapter titles, captions, labels, diagrams, charts, graphs, sidebars, and extra features are not included.

A Lenni-Lenape Tribal Myth

retold by Jeri CiprianoIllustrated by Micha Archer

Rainbow Crow

Brings Fire to Earth

IllustrationsMicha Archer.

ISBN 13: 978-0-328-50859-4 ISBN 10: 0-328-50859-4

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Long, long ago, all the animals lived in peace. They took good care of one another. Birds flew high above the cliffs and mountains. They returned with news of what they had seen. The news could be about a distant volcano erupting or clouds rolling in.

4

Rainbow Crow flew far and wide. He was a good friend. When he returned from a trip, he would sing beautiful songs.

5

One day it began to snow. The animals had not seen snow before. It snowed and snowed. Soon, the animals began to worry. Little animals were disappearing in the snow. No one could see Mouse. No one could see Squirrel. No one could see Rabbit.

6

The animals gathered in the forest. Smaller animals sat on top of taller animals. “We need someone to guide us out of the forest,” said Beaver.

“No,” said Fox. “It is snowing everywhere.”

“We need someone to visit Great Spirit in the Sky,” said Bear. “We need someone to ask Great Spirit to stop the snow.”

7

“Whoo, whoo,” said Owl. “Who will leave Earth and travel above the blue sky?”

“Not I,” said Tiger.“Not I,” said Bear.“Don’t look at me,” said Robin.

8

“I will,” said Rainbow Crow. “ I will stop the snow.” He sang a beautiful song. “I cannot see my good friends suffer.” Rainbow Crow went on. “I shall find the Great Sky Spirit. If I do not reappear, think of me with love.”

Then Rainbow Crow flew into the clouds and disappeared. All that remained was the sweetness of his song.

9

Great Spirit heard Rainbow Crow’s song. He offered Crow a prize. “You deserve a gift for such a lovely voice,” he said. “Just name what you want.”

10

“I would be happy, Great Spirit in the Sky, if you could stop the snow,” Rainbow Crow said.

“I can’t do that,” said Great Spirit. “That would awaken the Snow Spirit’s anger.”

So Rainbow Crow asked Great Spirit to stop the cold.

“I can’t do that, either,” said Great Spirit. “Cold and snow have spirits of their own, you see.”

Rainbow Crow was silent.

11

“I know!” said Great Spirit. “I can give you the gift of Fire.” He lit the end of a stick with fire. “Fire will keep you warm. Fire will melt the snow. You and your friends will be fine until spring.”

12

Rainbow Crow flew quickly to keep the fire from going out. As he flew, the fire covered his feathers with soot. Smoke blew into his mouth, and he lost his pretty voice. When he reached the forest, his friends were buried under the snow. Crow flew around and around, melting the snow as he passed. Soon all his friends reappeared. “Thank you, brave Crow!” they called out.

Crow looked sad.

13

The Great Spirit spoke to Crow. “Don’t be sad about losing your beautiful feathers and voice. No one will hunt you. Your meat now tastes like smoke. No one will ever cage you. You are no longer a songbird.” Crow looked up.

“I give you the gift of freedom for saving your friends,” said Great Spirit.

And to this day, the black crow flies free.

14

The Lenni-Lenape Nation once lived in what is now Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. They were known for their peaceful ways. They helped other tribes settle their differences. Today, the Lenni-Lenape Nation’s government is in the state of Oklahoma.

There are many Lenape legends, myths, and fairy tales. Storytelling is very important to the Lenape culture. Myths often explain how something came to be — how the crow came to be black, for example.

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