The Harmony Tree
In the Harmony Tree, an old grandmother oak tree is spared when loggers come through and clear-cut a forest. Grandmother Oak finds herself alone until new houses start showing up on the land, along with new trees. Grandmother Oak tries to make friends with these trees, but they are shallow and focused only on themselves As Grandmother Oak shares her stories and how she came to have such deep roots, she finds hope and healing The other trees, seeing the value of Grandmother Oak's history with the land, begin to find strength too.
The inspiration for this story comes from the author's own fifty-acre farm, where all the virgin frees were logged except for a large, white nak tree that sat at the top of a hill. Randy Woodley, says, "I was always grateful the loggers left that one 300-year-old tree for us to enjoy. That and the tragic circumstances that caused the Woodleys to lose their land and farm just because they were Native Americans inspired Randy to write this story. Under such circumstances, Randy wondered, "How could this one tree bring about healing and friendship in the world? If we can change our minds about our current views of progress, ecology, and the relationship between settler and host peoples, then maybe that one grandmother oak tree, left uncut, offers some hope for everyone."
The Harmony Tree 2
When a forest fire almost wipes out a neighborhood, along with the grove of Oaks down the street, a young girl named Jade leaves her home to thank the fire crew, especially for saving Grandmother Oak. Her conversation with the Native American fire crew leads to the topics of nature, Native Americans, women in leadership and how to become a part of the co-sustaining process of keeping Mother Earth healthy and strong. The reader will learn much about these subjects and more in this fun book, jammed-packed with educational opportunities for children and adults.
The Harmony Tree Prequel
This is the third book in the Harmony Tree Series. It is a story of how a boy, Sage, who is different than all the other boys, finds his place in society because he is accepted for his particular giftings instead of complying to popular expectations. In most tribal societies differently gifted individuals were not looked down upon but considered sacred. The author has close relatives who are neurodivergent, but the story will be an encouragement for any child who is different; to the parents of such children, and to teach other children cultural and inter-relational sensitivity. In this third book, as in the prior two, parents will be able to pick out the ecological theme. The Harmony Tree Prequal: Different is Good encourages animal species preservation.
Randy Woodley is an esteemed scholar, teacher, and author known for his work in the fields of theology, justice, and Indigenous rights. With a deep understanding of Native American culture and spirituality, Randy has dedicated his life to promoting reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and the rest of the world. As a Cherokee descendant, recognized by the Keetoowah Band, Randy brings a unique perspective to conversations around spirituality, ecology, and social justice. His teachings emphasize the interconnectedness of all living beings and the importance of caretaking the Earth.