"The sky in Montana somehow seems bigger, bluer, and more spectacular than in any other state." Author Sneed B. Collard, III writes, "it's simply because our sky stretches over such an abundance of beauty." In B is for Big Sky Country readers will find out where the Going-to-the-Sun Road really takes you and what city the copper capitol dome calls home.

Reliability, devotion and faithfulness: endearing qualities shared between people and their canine companions. Shep is the true story of a dog that became an inspiration to people around the world. Following the death of his owner in 1936, Shep watched as his body was placed on a train and shipped east. For more than five years, through rain and snow, Shep met every incoming train with hopes that he would see the man who had cared for him. Even today, people visit Fort Benton, Montana, to stand at the grave of a dog whose actions remind us of the true meaning of loyalty and heart.Sneed B. Collard III is the author of more than 45 books for young people including The Prairie Builders, The Forest in the Clouds, Butterfly Count and B is for Big Sky Country: A Montana Alphabet. Sneed lives in Missoula, Montana. Joanna Yardley has illustrated a number of award-winning children's books. This is her third book with Sleeping Bear Press. She is the illustrator of B is for Big Sky Country: A Montana Alphabet and P is for Peace Garden: A North Dakota Alphabet. Jo lives in Missoula, Montana along with her husband and son.

Here is the thrilling, thigh-slapping companion to Swamp Angel, the beloved Caldecott Honor–winning picture book. Swamp Angel has a reputation as the greatest woodswoman and wildest wildcat in all of Tennessee. But when she grows too big for that state, she moves to Montana, a place so sizeable, even Angel can fit in. It’s there that she wrestles a raging storm to the ground and, at its center, finds herself a sidekick—a horse she names Dust Devil. And when Backward Bart, the orneriest, ugliest outlaw ever known, starts terrorizing the prairie, seems like Angel and Dust Devil may be the only ones strong enough to stop him. Dust Devil received four starred reviews and was named a New York Times Notable Children's Book of the Year and an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Winner. Children will be captivated by the beauty and exaggerated humor of Paul Zelinsky’s American primitive–style paintings and the wit and energy of Anne Isaacs’s unparalleled storytelling. Here is an original folktale starring an extraordinary gal who is as feisty as she is funny and as courageous as she is kind.

Now in paperback, the story of Salish Indian Walking Coyote and his efforts to save the vanishing buffalo herds from extinction in the United States during the 1870s and 1880s.

Written for kids ages eight to twelve, Digging Up Dinosaurs, by world-renowned paleontologist Jack Horner, is chock full of fun and fascinating information about fossils in Montana, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, North Dakota, and South Dakota. \nHorner takes kids along on the dig, explaining step by step how fossils are formed, the best places to find them, what it takes to get them out of the ground, and what the fossils tell us about the dinosaurs that roamed the Rocky Mountain states and the Dakotas. We even get to look back in time at what the region looked like during the Mesozoic Era and what dinosaurs ruled in what are now Montana, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, North Dakota, and South Dakota. \nAWARDS: Finalist, ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Awards, Juvenile Nonfiction, 2007. Finalist, Ben Franklin Book Awards, Science and Environment category, 2008.

A little-known but fascinating and larger-than-life character, Mary Fields is one of the unsung, trailblazing African American women who helped settle the American West. A former slave, Fields became the first African American woman stagecoach driver in 1895, when, in her 60s, she beat out all the cowboys applying for the job by being the fastest to hitch a team of six horses. She won the dangerous and challenging job, and for many years traveled the badlands with her pet eagle, protecting the mail from outlaws and wild animals, never losing a single horse or package. Fields helped pave the way for other women and people of color to become stagecoach drivers and postal workers.

Young Charles Russell wanted to be a cowboy, so just two weeks shy of his sixteenth birthday, the determined Charlie boarded a train heading to the frontier. There, in 1880, in the land of buffalo, Indians, and open prairie, Charlie found his home. And there he became a painter-but not just any painter. Today Charles M. Russell is considered one of the greatest artists of the American West and one who opened its door to so many.

This Newbery Honor winning, New York Times bestseller celebrates the true spirit of independence on the American frontier.For most of her life, sixteen-year-old Hattie Brooks has been shuttled from one distant relative to another. Tired of being Hattie Here-and-There, she summons the courage to leave Iowa and move all by herself to Vida, Montana, to prove up on her late uncle’s homestead claim. Under the big sky, Hattie braves hard weather, hard times, a cantankerous cow, and her own hopeless hand at the cookstove. Her quest to make a home is championed by new neighbors Perilee Mueller, her German husband, and their children. For the first time in her life, Hattie feels part of a family, finding the strength to stand up against Traft Martin’s schemes to buy her out and against increasing pressure to be a “loyal” American at a time when anything—or anyone—German is suspect. Despite daily trials, Hattie continues to work her uncle’s claim until an unforeseen tragedy causes her to search her soul for the real meaning of home.This young pioneer's story is lovingly stitched together from Kirby Larson’s own family history and the sights, sounds, and scents of homesteading life. AN AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION BEST BOOK FOR YOUNG ADULTSA SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST BOOKA BOOKLIST EDITORS' CHOICENAMED TO 13 STATE AWARD LISTS"A marvelous story about courage, loyalty, perseverance, and the meaning of home." --Newbery Award-Winning Author Karen Cushman

This is the dramatic, heart-wrenching tale of Max (from Freak the Mighty) and Worm, two outsiders who turn to each other for survival.

The sequel to When the Sergeant Came Marching Home offers more feel-good, laugh-aloud adventures of eleven-year-old Donald growin up in post-World War II Montana. This timeout, Donald is sure that his life is ruined when a pop fly beanball knocks him senseless out in left field. The error costs his team the game, and Donald is desperate to redeem himself. But all of his efforts end in disaster. Readers will welcome the return of this appealing young hero in a hilarious new story.

Help Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose solve mysteries from A to Z! Kids love collecting the entire alphabet and super editions! With over 8 million copies in print, the A to Z Mysteries® have been hooking chapter book readers on mysteries and reading for years. Now this classic kid favorite is back with a bright new look! N is for Nugget . . . Howdy from Montana, pardners! Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are spending a week at a dude ranch. When they pan for gold, Josh finds a huge nugget. But gold fever has struck, and soon the nugget is stolen. It’s up to the kids to round up the thief.

A story for children 9 to 13 packed with authentic information about Indian lore, survival skills, and the West before the white man.

When thirteen-year-old Josh runs away to the mountains of Montana with an orphaned bear cub destined for laboratory testing, they both must fight for their lives in a sudden snowstorm.

Ursula always wanted to see the circus. That is, until she caught smallpox. Now all she wants is to hide her scarred face. But Ah Sam, her parents' Chinese cook, has other ideas. He brings to town a magical circus and finds a way to give Ursula the confidence she needs to face the world. In return, Ursula finds a way to make Ah Sam happy. She creates the biggest, best Chinese New Year celebration that )Whistle, Montana, has ever seen!\nBased on actual events that occurred in the early twentieth century, two-time Newbery Honor author Laurence Yep's novel captures both the overwhelming pain of being different and the simple comfort in finding the community to which you belong.

A young wolf seeks the bravery to be himself in this “rich take on the wild that quickens the pulse and fills the heart” (Kirkus Reviews), from the author of National Book Award Finalist Mean Margaret and The Wainscott Weasel.Wolves. Predators of the wild. Stalkers of the forests. Born into rankings and expected to live up to their roles. Blue Boy, the alpha male of his pack, is the largest wolf many have ever seen, and his dream is to have a firstborn son who will take after him in every way. But Lamar is not turning out the way his father hoped. Lamar likes to watch butterflies. He worries if his younger siblings fall behind in the hunt. He has little interest in peacocking in front of other clans. Blue Boy grows increasingly dismayed at Lamar’s lack of wolf instincts, and then Lamar does the intolerable: he becomes attracted to a coyote. While the other infractions can be begrudgingly tolerated, this one cannot, and the unity of the pack is in jeopardy. Lamar wants to make his family happy, but is doing what is expected of him worth losing the only true friend he’s ever had?Full of bite and beauty that will make you think of White Fang, then Ferdinand, this story cuts to the heart of what’s most important: being true to yourself, and being true to others.

\nWestern Writers of America Spur Award for Teen Fiction\nMontana Book Award Honor\nOn a hot summer day in 1910 a teenage soldier assembled his rifle. A girl argued to save trees on a mountain homestead. A young man set out to fight fire. None knew that soon the many blazes burning across northern Idaho would blow up and send a wall of flame racing their way.Portraying a natural disaster that would dictate how the United States would fight wildfire in the 20th century, The Big Burn brings to life a turning point in fire science, forestry, and history.Richly drawn characters doing their best against gigantic odds will grip your heart. The realistic depiction of wildfire will make you feel you were there.With non-fiction Field Notes and an Afterword about firefighting today, it's a novel that moves from the 1900s into the 21st century. Whether you're an adult or young adult reader, you'll come away with a new understanding of nature and of the role forest fire plays in shaping the environment. And you'll want to thank the firefighters who face wildfire every year.From the Christopher Award-winning author of Hitch and Paper Daughter"Historically accurate and dramatically engaging...a great choice for anyone who is interested in learning about the phenomena of forest fires while also reading a great story" -Teen Reads"Presents a vivid picture of a natural disaster while skillfully conveying in fluid prose the individual stories of the three young people" -Horn Book"Fascinating and harrowing...for any kid whose tastes run to disaster and survival, mixed into a coming of age story" -Richie's Picks"Readers will arrive at the final pages with an effortlessly acquired cache of information on how fire travels and the strategies employed to save land and life" -The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books\nNational Book Foundation Book to Read Aloud\nGroton Reads teen selection and companion read to Timothy Egan's non-fiction book also titled The Big Burn--Groton Public Library community-wide reading event\nBook of the Month--Center for Integrating Research and Learning at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University\nKeystone State Reading Association Young Adult Book Award nominee\nIdaho State by State Selection--The Great American Reading Project\nConnecticut Adult Virtual High School Contemporary Literature reading selection\n\n"Will soon have the reader enthralled" -Children's Literature"Readers with a taste for sprawling tales will find their efforts rewarded" -Kirkus"The masterful nonfiction introduction...moves through many small details, then widens to the big picture... At this point, we know we have to read on" -Dorothy Hinshaw Patent, author of NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students The Call of the Osprey "A story of danger and drama...exciting but also instructive and informative" -Kliatt"Will heighten appreciation for the courage and sacrifice of firefighters and settlers" -Publishers Weekly"While aimed at teens, the novel makes a compelling read for adults" -Billings Gazette"Readers will become engrossed in this dramatic tale of risk, bravery, personal responsibility and maturation" -The Olympian"Very well-researched...informative, and yet absorbing at the same time" -InkweaverPraise from readers "A welcome addition to any classroom library, especially for those reluctant readers""Not to be missed""So-real-you-could-reach-out-and-touch-them characters""Great historical fiction""Keeps you wanting more" "A thrilling novel with much authenticity" "As a librarian for youth I found this book to rate five stars and more""Good historical fiction - replete with adventure, romance and suspense"

\nChristopher Award - "Better to light one candle than to curse the darkness"\nSociety of School Librarians International Best Book\nHistorical fiction at its best! From the author of The Big Burn comes this captivating story of a boy striving to become a man amidst the hard times of the 1930s Great Depression. Teenager Moss Trawnley is on his own and desperate when he joins Franklin Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC means a job at a Montana camp and money for his family. Self-esteem and self-reliance. Friends and being a leader. A crash course in living with nature. And it means facing hard times and building something good. Includes reader's guide.Double whammy. Good book. Good boy book. . .It's a coming-of-age novel worthy of your time. --Treasure Chest for TweensThis is a must read book!! If you like realistic fiction then you should definitely read this novel. --East Meadow Public Library YA Book Log, review by a middle school studentAn excellent piece of historical fiction which helps people today to appreciate events that took place in the past. Written with humor, pathos, and a keen understanding of the times. -Through the Looking Glass Book ReviewsGreat for boys. --YA Books CentralFelt like a well-done film where one can't help but root for the hero. Although intended for young adults, anyone will find Hitch a great read. --Historical Novel Society\nNew York Public Library Book for the Teen Age\nTexas Tayshas book list\nNational Endowment for the Humanities/American Library Association We the People Bookshelf\n

Remember Little Bighorn, maintains the momentum of this award-winning National Geographic series, which continues to set new standards in nonfiction history books for middle-grade students. Author Paul Robert Walker draws on scores of eyewitness accounts of the Battle of the Little Bighorn from Indians, soldiers, and scouts, measuring their testimony against the archaeological evidence to separate fact from fiction. From this wide kaleidoscope of testimony, the author focuses his narrative into an objective and balanced account of one of the most contentious chapters of American history. Covering the core curriculum topics of Westward Expansion and the Indian Wars, Walker's text is a vivid and timely historical narrative to mark the 130th anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn in June 2006. Readers first learn about events preceding the fighting, including the discovery of gold on Indian land in the Black Hills, the refusal by Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and other Indian leaders to obey a government order to live on the Great Sioux Reservation, and the subsequent battle in Rosebud Valley. The narrative evolves to the three major clashes known collectively as the Battle of the Little Bighorn: the attack by Major Reno on Sitting Bull's village, the "Custer Massacre" in which Crazy Horse and more than a thousand warriors wipe out George Armstrong Custer and his immediate command, and the final battle on Reno Hill, which culminates in the victorious Sioux and Cheyenne setting fire to the grass and moving up the river. The afterword explains how the greatest Indian victory only hastened their final defeat, as news of Custer's fate enflamed public opinion and led Congress to give control of all Sioux agencies to the Army. Readers learn how Sioux rations were cut off until native claims to the Black Hills and Montana hunting grounds were renounced. In the finest National Geographic tradition, the book illuminates this controversial period in American history with extensive use of primary sources. Some 50 archival images are included, several by Native Americans, plus a map showing troop and Indian movement. Remember Little Bighorn also features a comprehensive time line of Indian Wars, web sites, student-friendly resources, and a quick-reference index that make it an ideal source for writing reports.National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

On the morning of June 25, 1876, a force of 700 men from the 7th US Calvary led by General George Armstrong Custer attacked an Indian encampment on the banks of the Little Big Horn River. Unbeknownst to Custer, he faced the combined might of the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes, led by their greatest chiefs, Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. Advised by his Indian scouts not to attack, the foolhardy general ignored their warnings and trusted to "Custer's luck" one last time. . . In this commemorative edition of his first published book, Goble recounts the tale of Custer's last battle through the eyes of Red Hawk, a fictional young Lakota warrior. Presented in the shorter format that Goble originally intended, and combined with a new author's introduction and a foreword by Joe Medicine Crow, the Crow tribal historian whose grandfather was one of Custer's own scouts, readers will marvel at this tale of honor and bravery.

A haunting, magnificently written memoir by Ivan Doig about growing up in the American West\n \nIvan Doig grew up in the rugged wilderness of western Montana among the sheepherders and denizens of small-town saloons and valley ranches. What he deciphers from his past with piercing clarity is not only a raw sense of land and how it shapes us but also of the ties to our mothers and fathers, to those who love us, and our inextricable connection to those who shaped our values in our search for intimacy, independence, love, and family. A powerfully told story, This House of Sky is at once especially American and universal in its ability to awaken a longing for an explicable past.