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How Rabbit Tricked Otter: And Other Cherokee Trickster Stories
The Parabola Storytime series is a collection of stories and myths by the leading storytellers of Native American tribes. Originally produced by Parabola magazine in audio format, many of these stories appear here in written form for the first time, with the permission of tribal elders, and are enhanced by artwork authentic to the tradition. These stories evoke the beauty, wisdom, and living spirit of surviving oral traditions.
This collection of 15 Cherokee tales introduces the trickster-hero Rabbit, the most important character portrayed in the animal stories of the Cherokee culture. The surefooted messenger who carries important news to his animal friends near and far, Rabbit is charming and mischievous—he tricks others and is often tricked himself. Sometimes he wins and sometimes he loses; sometimes he is lazy and mean, sometimes kind and caring—but somehow Rabbit always survives. This replaces 0060212853.
This collection of 15 Cherokee tales introduces the trickster-hero Rabbit, the most important character portrayed in the animal stories of the Cherokee culture. The surefooted messenger who carries important news to his animal friends near and far, Rabbit is charming and mischievous—he tricks others and is often tricked himself. Sometimes he wins and sometimes he loses; sometimes he is lazy and mean, sometimes kind and caring—but somehow Rabbit always survives. This replaces 0060212853.
78 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 27, 2019
How Rabbit Tricked Otter and Other Trickster Stories written/compiled by Gayle Ross is a collection of folklore intended for children ages 8-11. This collection contains fifteen tales about Rabbit, a central figure in Cherokee storytelling. The wily creature is a “consummate mischief-maker”, always ready to prove himself better than his fellow animals--almost always through unfair means. He is always moving, talking, and plotting. The language flows flawlessly and engages the reader as each story is retold. Each adventure has a full-page illustration enclosed in a patterned border, in deep, intense colors on a dark ground. The detailed, primitive-style acrylic paintings by a Kentucky-Cherokee artist portray the animals, traditional clothing, and environment with accuracy. This collection amuses, engages, entertains, and educates.
November 27, 2019
November 27, 2019
December 24, 2023
THIS IS THE BEST BOOK I HAVE READ IN A LONG TIME THAT MADE ME LAUGH SO MUCH I CRIED!!!
This is the best book of animal stories and the artwork is so eye-captivating I could look at it for hours upon hours.
Our library collection policy would weed this book right out of the library--but I would argue this work is timeless and relevant to crafty thinking & higher order thinking skills.
This is the best book of animal stories and the artwork is so eye-captivating I could look at it for hours upon hours.
Our library collection policy would weed this book right out of the library--but I would argue this work is timeless and relevant to crafty thinking & higher order thinking skills.
July 18, 2025
I uses to love learning other cultures myths
February 15, 2011
Many different cultures have trickster tales, tales about how one character outwits another. Sometimes the trickster learns his lesson, other times he does not. In the case of Rabbit, a trickster character found in Cherokee folklore, he never seems to learn, and continues on with his mischief whenever he gets the chance. Though his boastfulness and jealousy often lead his interactions with his fellow animals, he is never malicious. Through striking paintings—colors that seem to glow and pop right off of the black background on which they are painted—and well-told tales, this book will entertain, teach us about important values, and provide an explanation or two about how the natural world came to be as we know it now.
As I was reading, one story in particular caught my attention, “Rabbit and the Tar Wolf.” I found it interesting because there are similar stories of Rabbit and a tar animal in African American folklore. In these stories, like this one, animals who are tired of Rabbit’s boasting and trickery try to out wit Rabbit by making a tar animal of some-sort. Thinking that the tar creature is real, he tries to talk with it, but gets more and more frustrated as he gets no verbal response. Finally, he threatens it and tells it that he will hit it if it does not move out of the way. When it still does not respond, he goes ahead and hits it, followed by kicking it, getting stuck further and further into the goo. After seeing that they have finally caught the tricky rabbit, the other animals try to figure out how to get rid of him once and for all. Interestingly, in both this Cherokee version and those found in African American folklore, Rabbit uses reverse psychology to get his way in the end. Various ways to get rid of him are contemplated, until Rabbit finally tells them that being thrown into the briar thicket would be the worst place to stick him. Figuring that that sounds like a great plan, they do so, not realizing that this actually is his home. Again, in both versions, Rabbit has outwitted the other animals.
I think it might be interesting to have 2nd-5th graders or even older students do a comparison of this and other trickster stories across cultures. They could note the regions of origin of such tales and discuss how aspects of these regions might have contributed to any similarities in stories/ story elements across cultures. For example, Cherokee Indians lived in similar regions as African American slaves. They also were both oppressed groups of people and perhaps related to the cunning and perseverance of Rabbit. Perhaps these similarities are only coincidental. Either way, this would be a great way for students (especially older ones) to delve deeper into the history and symbolism in folktales.
Knowing that this book was written by a Cherokee storyteller (and in fact, a direct descendent of John Ross, the famous Cherokee chief during the “Trail of Tears”) is important as this lends to the authenticity of the stories. Likewise, the illustrator is of Kentucky-Cherokee descent. As was mentioned in the forward by Chief Wilma Mankiller, the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation at the time this book was written, these stories of Rabbit, the trickster, are an important part of Cherokee history. With so much technology now, oral tradition of passing down these stories is becoming a dying art. Chief Wilma Mankiller noted in appreciation that the author and illustrator “have contributed greatly to the preservation of the stories of Rabbi by creating this wonderful collection of stories and illustrations.”
As I was reading, one story in particular caught my attention, “Rabbit and the Tar Wolf.” I found it interesting because there are similar stories of Rabbit and a tar animal in African American folklore. In these stories, like this one, animals who are tired of Rabbit’s boasting and trickery try to out wit Rabbit by making a tar animal of some-sort. Thinking that the tar creature is real, he tries to talk with it, but gets more and more frustrated as he gets no verbal response. Finally, he threatens it and tells it that he will hit it if it does not move out of the way. When it still does not respond, he goes ahead and hits it, followed by kicking it, getting stuck further and further into the goo. After seeing that they have finally caught the tricky rabbit, the other animals try to figure out how to get rid of him once and for all. Interestingly, in both this Cherokee version and those found in African American folklore, Rabbit uses reverse psychology to get his way in the end. Various ways to get rid of him are contemplated, until Rabbit finally tells them that being thrown into the briar thicket would be the worst place to stick him. Figuring that that sounds like a great plan, they do so, not realizing that this actually is his home. Again, in both versions, Rabbit has outwitted the other animals.
I think it might be interesting to have 2nd-5th graders or even older students do a comparison of this and other trickster stories across cultures. They could note the regions of origin of such tales and discuss how aspects of these regions might have contributed to any similarities in stories/ story elements across cultures. For example, Cherokee Indians lived in similar regions as African American slaves. They also were both oppressed groups of people and perhaps related to the cunning and perseverance of Rabbit. Perhaps these similarities are only coincidental. Either way, this would be a great way for students (especially older ones) to delve deeper into the history and symbolism in folktales.
Knowing that this book was written by a Cherokee storyteller (and in fact, a direct descendent of John Ross, the famous Cherokee chief during the “Trail of Tears”) is important as this lends to the authenticity of the stories. Likewise, the illustrator is of Kentucky-Cherokee descent. As was mentioned in the forward by Chief Wilma Mankiller, the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation at the time this book was written, these stories of Rabbit, the trickster, are an important part of Cherokee history. With so much technology now, oral tradition of passing down these stories is becoming a dying art. Chief Wilma Mankiller noted in appreciation that the author and illustrator “have contributed greatly to the preservation of the stories of Rabbi by creating this wonderful collection of stories and illustrations.”
March 21, 2012
Rabbit loves to brag a lot and he thinks he can do everything. His wanting to be able to do everything and bragging often get him in trouble. And Rabbit loves to play tricks. This makes the other animals very mad and sometimes they play tricks on Rabbit too.
I thought this was a nice book of trickster tales about Rabbit. I think anyone who is interested in Cherokee trickster stories will enjoy this book.
I thought this was a nice book of trickster tales about Rabbit. I think anyone who is interested in Cherokee trickster stories will enjoy this book.
July 19, 2014
I bought this book after hearing Gayle tell traditional stories at a Trail of Tears Remembrance weekend. She's very proud of this book, but pointedly chose to tell us the one story that the publishers left out. (I'll just say that the omitted one was a bit off-color and hilarious and you should seek out one of Gayle's appearances so you can hear it.) The stories that are left are neat descriptions of why animals are the way they are. I'm in love with the artwork too.
September 30, 2011
This is one of my daughter's favorite audio books. She has listened to these Cherokee stories many times. Well read, and a pleasure to listen to.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews