Chasing Bigfoot

by Art Coulson, Frank Buffalo Hyde (Illustrator)

Chooch Tenkiller is not thrilled to be spending some of his summer with his Cherokee story-telling uncles and cousin Janees at a convention in North Carolina. While there, the uncles want to visit Judaculla Rock, a place of spiritual significance to the Cherokee people. Little does Chooch know that he has his own connection to the rock--a connection that could put him in mortal danger.

216 pages, Hardcover

Published April 15, 2022

About the author

Art Coulson is a writer, editor and storyteller who served as the first executive director of the Wilma Mankiller Foundation in the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, after a 25-year career in journalism. He is the author of The Creator’s Game: A Story of Baaga’adowe/Lacrosse, Unstoppable: How Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Defeated the Army, The Reluctant Storyteller, Lure of the Lake, Trophy Buck and Look, Grandma! Ni, Elisi!.

Reviews

[Harlyn Rengel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like how this book changes from different people’s point of views. My favorite character is Uncle Jack because he’s always hungry like me🍔!! I really don’t like Dr Almasty, but I really like Dottle!

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

My girls and I have venturing to the library, it has been years since we have done this. Both have already completed the reading challenge for the summer, and they love going to the library. On one of our last visits, I had my stack of books, and went to go flush them out of the kids section. Good thing I did too, otherwise, this book may not have picked me out to read it. It was sitting on an end cap, and being the Bigfoot lover that I am, I just had to pick it up and read it.

It is a magical book that ties in Native American beliefs and histories into the modern world and the creatures that stem from their culture and history. Other magical beings are also mentioned. Over all it is a fun book that is a fun read and quick one at that too.

[Jess M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cherokee author Art Colson created this adventure based on the Cherokee stories of Tsul 'Kalu (Bigfoot) and Little People. I enjoyed learning about this part of Cherokee culture through the eyes of a child. This book was selected for iur school's summer reading program: Battle of the Books. I read it along with 4th, 5th and 6th graders including my daughter. Although some kids felt it started a little slow, the action picked up quickly and provided a fun adventure. I'm so glad we read this book and learned more about the Cherokee nation.

It is also important to choose Native American authors when learning about their culture. We met Art and he helped us understand more about these stories. Check out his website for more info!

[Po · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the idea of this book but it reads like a middle schoolers creative writing essay. I know it’s a YA book but I was expecting better writing. I would recommend it to a younger audience, especially if they’re interested in bigfoot or reading about contemporary native Americans. The author is also Cherokee so I’m always happy to support native authors.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read!
I really like the tropes of the bad guys and the storytelling style would appeal to middle-schoolers.
Wonderful tie in of Cherokee language and oral tradition.