Jacob and Duvall . com — Books & Art · Tales of the Ancient Cherokee

The Great Ball Game
of the Birds and Animals

* AWARDS *
2003 Oklahoma Book Award for Illustration & Design
2005 Oklahoma Book Award - Directors' Choice for Series

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Hardcover - 32 Pages
Retail - $15.00 USD

Story by Deborah L. Duvall
Drawings by Murv Jacob

Publisher: University of New Mexico Press ©2002

Excerpt:

"Hurry!" the little creature shouted to his tiny companion. "We must keep up with them!"

The furry little animals, no bigger than mice, listened intently to all the talk about the big game to take place the next morning. The Animals had challenged the Birds to a game of stickball, and the winners of this match would be very great indeed ...

— Synopsis —

When the Animals of the southeastern woodlands challenge the Birds to a game of stickball, two of the smallest Animals are not allowed to play. The Bear, the Deer, and the other big animals think they are too small to compete.

In this ancient Cherokee story the little animals find a way to play in the Great Ball Game.

This is a story about courage in the face of adversity, the thrill of the game, and the joy of victory. Teaching the virtues of creativity and determination, it takes us to a magical time when the animals talked and wonderful things happened in our world.

Murv Jacob's beautiful drawings bring the characters of Cherokee legend to life, and Deborah Duvall's dialogue explains the ceremonial preparations and the rules of stickball, a game that is played enthusiastically to this day.

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