New Releases by Deborah L. Duvall

Have you ever seen an opossum, hurrying across the road with its eyes and coat shining in your headlights? Or hanging upside down from a tree? Or lying on the ground 'playing possum' as if dead? And did you ever wonder why the opossum acts this way? The ancient Cherokee people wondered about the opossum, whose silly grin and hairless tail caught their imagination. In those days, the people had no written language, and they relied on stories to explain the behavior of the animals in their world. According to Cherokee legend, the Opossum owned a magnificent tail, covered in glistening fur, of which he was terribly proud. The tail was so magnificent, in fact, that the Opossum thought it his duty to make everyone else appreciate it as well. In this seventh volume of the Grandmother Stories, Si-qua the Opossum brags constantly about his tail until his neighbors can stand it no more. Something must be done about him! The prideful Si-qua is overcome by loss and despair when his outer beauty is suddenly gone. But an unexpected ally helps Si-qua discover powerful abilities within himself that will soon win the true admiration of his friends. Visit the authors' website at www.jacobandduvall.com.

Does Ji-Stu meet his match in the crafty ravens, out to get his most prized possession?

In Ji-Stu the Rabbit's forest, the rain has stopped falling and the river is drying up. Soon the forest creatures will have no water to drink. One day Ji-Stu has an idea: there's plenty of water deep in the ground. What the animals need is a well! All his neighbors agree, and they begin at once to dig a well. Everyone, that is, except Ji-Stu the Rabbit! He spends his time relaxing while the others work day after day digging the well. After all, it was his idea to dig the well in the first place! At last the well diggers reach cold, clear water. Ji-Stu wants to join in the celebration and refill his empty water pots, but quickly learns that he is not welcome at the well. Because he refused to help, he shall have none of the precious water. But the trickster rabbit has plans of his own to get all the water he needs--for free!

A new Ji-Stu adventure with his friend Wildcat and mythical birds in the land of sunflowers.

Rabbit recieves an unexpected invitation from Squirrel to help her plant the forest.

Rabbit wants to sing as well as Redbird does.

His adventure begins when Rabbit goes to tell Otter that he saw the giant wood duck.

Bored on a fall afternoon, Rabbit accompanies Bear when he sets off for the mountain where all the bears spend the winter in hibernation.

When humans begin to hunt animals, the animals hold councils and decided to protect themselves by harming the people, but the plants, knowing that people took care of them, find a way to help.

When Rabbit becomes jealous of Otter's beautiful coat, which causes his own beautiful tail to be ignored, he plots to steal the coat and become popular again.

An ancient Cherokee legend, retold with lively dialogue and intriguing illustrations.

These pages are filled with memories and favorite tales that capture the essence of life in the Cherokee Nation. Ms. Duvall invites the reader to follow the tribe from its pre-historic days in the southeast, to early 20th century life in the Cookson Hills of Oklahoma. Learn about Pretty Woman, who had the power over life and death, or the mystical healing springs of Tahlequah. Spend some time with U.S. Deputy Marshals as they roam the old Cherokee Nation in pursuit of Indian Territory outlaws like Zeke Proctor and Charlie Wickliffe, or wander the famous haunted places where ghost horses still travel an ancient trail and the spirits of long-dead Spaniards still search for gold.

These pages are filled with memories and favorite tales that capture the essence of life in the Cherokee Nation. Ms. Duvall invites the reader to follow the tribe from its pre-historic days in the southeast, to early 20th century life in the Cookson Hills of Oklahoma. Learn about Pretty Woman, who had the power over life and death, or the mystical healing springs of Tahlequah. Spend some time with U.S. Deputy Marshals as they roam the old Cherokee Nation in pursuit of Indian Territory outlaws like Zeke Proctor and Charlie Wickliffe, or wander the famous haunted places where ghost horses still travel an ancient trail and the spirits of long-dead Spaniards still search for gold.

The Cherokee Nation, world-famous for its turbulent and colorful past, is home to the second-largest American Indian tribe in the United States. This fascinating visual history spans 14 counties of northeast Oklahoma, from the Arkansas River to the Kansas border, and features the capital, Tahlequah. The U.S. government's harsh treatment of the Cherokees culminating in the notorious "Trail of Tears" is documented here. In Indian Territory, the Cherokees quickly established systems of democratic government, education, and communication. Many lived in the same manner as their white counterparts of the time, as wealthy plantation owners and ranchers. They were completely literate in their own written language, printing newspapers, magazines, and books. Devastation struck as the Civil War split the Cherokees into factions, dividing families and neighbors and destroying communities and homes. Again, the resilient Cherokees rebuilt their nation, enjoying growth and renewed prosperity until land allotment and statehood stripped away their self-governance. The progressive, accomplished character of the Cherokees is evidenced by the pictures and stories in this book. Here you will meet the leaders who helped rebuild the great Cherokee Nation, legendary figures like Sequoyah and Will Rogers, and the patriots and artisans who have kept the tribe's culture and tradition alive throughout history.