Books with author Rita Kerr

A stray cat showed up at the Alamo in 1981 and had to be coaxed out of a tree by one of the Alamo Rangers who was on night guard duty. The cat became a fixture at the historic site and was given the name Ruby LeGato. She would hang out in the Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library during the day and go on night patrol with the rangers. She eventually became a celebrity at Texas' most historic site and when she gave birth to kittens in 1982, a TV news camera crew showed up to report on the blissful event. Ruby zealously guarded the grounds of the Alamo fending off other stray cats, raccoons, dogs or any other varmint that strayed onto her turf. Unfortunately Ruby drowned in 1986 on the Alamo grounds. Special permission by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas was given for Ruby to be buried in a beautiful garden spot on the Alamo grounds; a wooden marker was placed there and has since been replaced by a bronze plaque. Ruby is now immortalized in Rita Kerr's book, "The Alamo Cat".

Susanna Dickinson is one of the most legendary women in Texas history. Married to Captain Almaron Dickinson, she and her infant daughter Angelina were among the few survivors of the Battle of the Alamo. General Santa Anna was impressed with Dickinson and even offered to adopt Angelina and have her educated in Mexico. Santa Anna eventually released Dickinson and her daughter so she could spread word of his victory and tell the story of the Alamo. Noted Texas author, Rita Kerr tells Susannah Dickinson's story in this fictional biography that gives juvenile readers an inside account of the Alamo and life in early Texas.

In the year 1854, under the leadership of Father Leopold Moczygemba, the first Polish settlement of America was founded at Panna Maria, Texas. After enduring a long, perilous voyage from Poland, the first Polish settlers faced many hardships in Texas. These included snakes, droughts, and Indians.The historical facts in this book are documented. The ghost stories are based on folk tales and, perhaps, fiction.

The first battle of the Texas Revolution was fought in Gonzales in October 1835. The fight was between the Texans and Mexican soldiers over a small six-pound cannon. That brief encounter ignited the spark for the struggle for freedom. This led to the Battle for San Antonio and finally to the Siege of the Alamo. During the siege, Colonel William Travis issued an appeal for reinforcements and thirty-two gallant men of Gonzales rode to the Alamo in response to that plea. Fully aware of their peril, those heroes of Gonzales crossed the enemy lines and entered the Alamo on March 1, 1836. Included in the group were three sixteen-year-old boys: William King, John Gaston, and Galba Fuqua. In the days that followed they fought beside Davy Crockett, Almeron Dickinson, William Travis, and others. Finally, on March 6th, the Texans were overwhelmed by Santa Anna's forces and died to the last man and boy defending the Alamo. Their self-sacrifice and valor are engraved forever in the pages of history.