SASSAFRAS TALES BOOK I "The United Acres of Sassafras", a draw your own pictures book full of adventure, fantasy, humor, mystery, and just plain fun. The drawings in Sassafras Tales are by Kate Brown. She has included blank pages throughout her books for creative kids to draw their own pictures. It is an exciting experience for children to express their concept of the interesting characters in Sassafras Tales. They will not be disappointed with this treat. In "The United Acres of Sassafras" Duke-The-Chameleon is dropped on the lawn of Queeny's Limestone Palace by a goldfinch on migration. Duke-The-Chameleon changes colors according to his surroundings and emotions. When Duke is sad, he goes to his crying rock, turns blue, and plays his harmonica. He turns bright red when he is agitated or angry. Skeetle-The-Beetle has a magic backpack that rattles when it has something important in it. The outlandish whims of Queeny-The-Mouse send Skeetle and Duke on a scary adventure to The Black Mud Swamp to fetch a ruby for her tiara. Hezzra-The-Centipede is Duke's enemy. He crawls on the ceiling of the dungeon and pricks Duke's feet as he takes orders from the queen. When Skeetle and Duke get to The Black Mud Swamp, they find a group of bullfrogs who play Tic, Tac, Toe on the lily pads all day. Skeetle and Duke must solve a riddle before Babble-The-Bullfrog will tell them how to get to The Ruby Chamber. The Ruby is guarded by Winter-The-Black-Widow-Spider. The Ruby has an evil power that almost destroys everyone in The United Acres of Sassafras.