This children's picture book depicts the dramatic opening of 2 million acres of land in Oklahoma on April 22, 1889, and the mad rush that ensued as 50,000 people scrambled to stake their claim. Young Jesse convinces his injured father to let him drive the wagon. During the action-packed race, Jesse proves up to the challenges and secures a beautiful stake.

 

This book has been graded for interest at 5-8 years.

There are 32 pages in this book. This book was published 2008 by Pelican Publishing Co .

During her time as a volunteer in New Orleans, Lashon Daley fell in love with storytelling. After her mother's death, she found that the spoken word connected her to her mother. Daley pursues this story connection as she earns her MA in folklore at the University of California, Berkeley, where she is a distinguished graduate fellow. Illustrator Emile Henriquez is widely known as a commercial artist, graphic designer, and calligrapher. He has illustrated multiple Pelican titles, including D. J. and the Zulu Parade, D. J. and the Jazz Fest, D. J. and the Debutante Ball, The Battle of New Orleans: The Drummer's Story, The Oklahoma Land Run, and Toby Belfer Learns about Heroes and Martyrs. Henriquez lives in Slidell, Louisiana. Una Belle Townsend is an award-winning teacher and author. She has won a variety of writing and teaching awards, among them the Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year and Oklahoma Celebration of Reading best teacher's essay. Townsend received her bachelor's degree in elementary education from East Texas Baptist College (now known as East Texas Baptist University). She continued her education and earned a master's degree in elementary education from Stephen F. Austin State University. She lives in Yukon, Oklahoma, with her husband.