By developing a writing system for use by the Cherokee people, the Cherokee leader Sequoyah did after twelve years "what no one person had ever done before - he had created a written language from a spoken language." Sequoyah's accomplishments come to life throughout an original story featuring Sequoyah's young daughter Ahyoka. The easy-to-read, six-chapter book is illustrated with 18 black and white drawings. The 86-symbol Cherokee syllabary appears at the beginning of the story. A short bibliography follows the authors' epilogue that provides facts about the famous American Indian leader, in whose honor the "towering majestic redwoods" were named, Sequoia National Park was created and the annual Sequoyah Children's Book Award is given by Oklahoma children. (Ages 7-10)