Herding cattle from horseback has been a tradition in northern Mexico and the American West since the Spanish colonial era. The first mounted herders were the Mexican vaqueros, expert horsemen who developed the skills to work cattle in the brush country and deserts of the Southwestern borderlands. From them, Texas cowboys learned the trade, evolving their own unique culture that spread across the Southwest and Great Plains. The buckaroos of the Great Basin west of the Rockies trace their origin to the vaqueros, with influence along the way from the cowboys, though they, too, have ways and customs distinctly their own.

In this book, three long-time students of the American West describe the history, working practices, and folk culture of vaqueros, cowboys, and buckaroos. They draw on historical records, contemporary interviews, and numerous photographs to show what makes each group of mounted herders distinctive in terms of working methods, gear, dress, customs, and speech. They also highlight the many common traits of all three groups.

This comparative look at vaqueros, cowboys, and buckaroos brings the mythical image of the American cowboy into focus and detail and honors the regional and national variations. It will be an essential resource for anyone who would know or portray the cowboy--readers, writers, songwriters, and actors among them.

"In a state as big as Texas, the various regions differ widely in their histories and identities, which makes the cultivation of regional history essential. This collection of stories recounts the colorful past of the Clear Fork country--the land along the Clear Fork of the Brazos River in present-day Shackelford and Throckmorton counties. The editors focus first on the area's military past--Camp Cooper, Fort Griffin, and the society they spawned. The second focus is on the pioneers--the people who made the Clear Fork country their home and helped to establish its character.

"The editors have masterfully blended the words of modern writers--folks steeped in the region's history--with those of the persons who made that history. Here, combined for the first time, are classic works by two great historians of an earlier era--Rupert N. Richardson and Carl Coke Rister--along with efforts by several noted local writers. Also included is a report from Capt. R. B. Marcy's 1854 expedition through the then-largely unexplored region as well as interviews with several Clear Fork pioneers.

"This medley of voices offers a truly unique and personal perspective on the Clear Fork country and its people. It has all the elements of a classic western: soldiers, settlers, Indians, outlaws, buffalo hunters, and cowboys. This is the stuff of which, quite literally, legends were made--not to mention novels, movies, and television shows."--Bob Green, from the Introduction

"In a state as big as Texas, the various regions differ widely in their histories and identities, which makes the cultivation of regional history essential. This collection of stories recounts the colorful past of the Clear Fork country--the land along the Clear Fork of the Brazos River in present-day Shackelford and Throckmorton counties. The editors focus first on the area's military past--Camp Cooper, Fort Griffin, and the society they spawned. The second focus is on the pioneers--the people who made the Clear Fork country their home and helped to establish its character.

"The editors have masterfully blended the words of modern writers--folks steeped in the region's history--with those of the persons who made that history. Here, combined for the first time, are classic works by two great historians of an earlier era--Rupert N. Richardson and Carl Coke Rister--along with efforts by several noted local writers. Also included is a report from Capt. R. B. Marcy's 1854 expedition through the then-largely unexplored region as well as interviews with several Clear Fork pioneers.

"This medley of voices offers a truly unique and personal perspective on the Clear Fork country and its people. It has all the elements of a classic western: soldiers, settlers, Indians, outlaws, buffalo hunters, and cowboys. This is the stuff of which, quite literally, legends were made--not to mention novels, movies, and television shows."--Bob Green, from the Introduction

The tradition of storytelling and folklore reaches deeply into the American notion of national identity, and among the more prominent emblems of American culture stands the cowboy. Despite the attempts to modernize the cowboy of our frontier past, today's mounted horsemen have learned how to adapt to a rapidly changing worldwhile tenaciously holding on to their heritage. Tall tales and yarns make up a great amount of the folklore of this literary tradition, yet woven throughout such stories stir an American mixture of humor, wisdom, and philosophy. In ""Horsing Around"", Clayton, Davis, and Collins draw upon the vast amount of anecdotes portraying the lighter side of working on the range. The collected vignettes in ""Horsing Around"" will provide the collector of Texana greater accessibility to stories that are often told only at public performances.

Accelerated Reader is a program based on the fact that students become more motivated to read if they are tested on the content of the books they have read and are rewarded for correct answers. Students read each book, individually take the test on the computer, and receive gratification when they score well. Schools using the Accelerated Reader program have seen a significant increase in reading among their students.

These titles for reluctant readers highlight the possible consequences of drug use, including the dangers of addiction, damage to mind and body, and increased likelihood of violent behavior.

Discusses learning disabilities and what can be done to overcome the special problems associated with them.

Accelerated Reader is a program based on the fact that students become more motivated to read if they are tested on the content of the books they have read and are rewarded for correct answers. Students read each book, individually take the test on the computer, and receive gratification when they score well. Schools using the Accelerated Reader program have seen a significant increase in reading among their students.

Teens who need help with life skills may have parents who are all too frequently not around to provide basic instruction. In an ever riskier world, strong values and safety tips are a must. These high/low titles will help.

Accelerated Reader is a program based on the fact that students become more motivated to read if they are tested on the content of the books they have read and are rewarded for correct answers. Students read each book, individually take the test on the computer, and receive gratification when they score well. Schools using the Accelerated Reader program have seen a significant increase in reading among their students.

This collection of high/low titles serves as a rich resource for your at-risk teens. With the test disk, it also provides an opportunity to reinforce your students' understanding of the material.