Books with author Tricia Martineau Wagner

The brave pioneers who made a life on the frontier were not only male—and they were not only white. The story of African-American women in the Old West is one that has largely gone untold until now. The stories of ten African-American women are reconstructed from historic documents found in century-old archives. Some of these women slaves, some were free, and some were born into slavery and found freedom in the old west. They were laundresses, freedom advocates, journalists, educators, midwives, business proprietors, religious converts, philanthropists, mail and freight haulers, and civil and social activists. These hidden historical figures include Biddy Mason, a slave who fought for her family's freedom; Elizabeth Thorn Scott Flood, a teacher determined to educate black children and aid them in leading better lives; and the mysterious Mary Ellen Pleasant, a civil rights crusader and savvy businesswoman. Even in the face of racial prejudice, these unsung heroes never gave up hope for a brighter future.

The word cowboy conjures up vivid images of rugged men on saddled horses—men lassoing cattle, riding bulls, or brandishing guns in a shoot-out. White men, as Hollywood remembers them. What is woefully missing from these scenes is their counterparts: the black cowboys who made up one-fourth of the wranglers and rodeo riders. This book tells their story.When the Civil War ended, black men left the Old South in large numbers to seek a living in the Old West—industrious men resolved to carve out a life for themselves on the wild, roaming plains. Some had experience working cattle from their time as slaves; others simply sought a freedom they had never known before. The lucky travelled on horseback; the rest, by foot. Over dirt roads they went from Alabama and South Carolina to present-day Texas and California up north through Kansas to Montana. The Old West was a land of opportunity for these adventurous wranglers and future rodeo champions. A long overdue testament to the courage and skill of black cowboys, Black Cowboys of the Old West finally gives these courageous men their rightful place in history.

The word cowboy conjures up vivid images of rugged men on saddled horses—men lassoing cattle, riding bulls, or brandishing guns in a shoot-out. White men, as Hollywood remembers them. What is woefully missing from these scenes is their counterparts: the black cowboys who made up one-fourth of the wranglers and rodeo riders. This book tells their story.When the Civil War ended, black men left the Old South in large numbers to seek a living in the Old West—industrious men resolved to carve out a life for themselves on the wild, roaming plains. Some had experience working cattle from their time as slaves; others simply sought a freedom they had never known before. The lucky travelled on horseback; the rest, by foot. Over dirt roads they went from Alabama and South Carolina to present-day Texas and California up north through Kansas to Montana. The Old West was a land of opportunity for these adventurous wranglers and future rodeo champions. A long overdue testament to the courage and skill of black cowboys, Black Cowboys of the Old West finally gives these courageous men their rightful place in history.

Many of the events that took place along the Oregon Trail are well known--the perils the Applegate family faced as they rafted down the raging Columbia River, the plight of the Donner Party as they found themselves snowbound and starving at Truckee Lake. But do you know the whole story?It Happened on the Oregon Trail reveals the stories of these well-known events as well as many lesser-known happenings, providing insights about the adventurous emigrants who, beginning in the 1840s, headed west in covered wagons in search of a better life. The hardships and the joys of the 2000-mile journey across plains, mountains, and deserts come alive in this entertaining and informative book.

Many of the events that took place along the Oregon Trail are well known--the perils the Applegate family faced as they rafted down the raging Columbia River, the plight of the Donner Party as they found themselves snowbound and starving at Truckee Lake. But do you know the whole story?It Happened on the Oregon Trail reveals the stories of these well-known events as well as many lesser-known happenings, providing insights about the adventurous emigrants who, beginning in the 1840s, headed west in covered wagons in search of a better life. The hardships and the joys of the 2000-mile journey across plains, mountains, and deserts come alive in this entertaining and informative book.

Winner of ASJA's (American Society of Journalists and Authors) 2018 Annual Writing Awards for Children/Young Adult Nonfiction.50 Wacky Things Animals Do is loaded with all the wacky, interesting, and sometimes gross things animals do that seem too crazy to be true, but are! The planet Earth is a big place, and it's filled with all kinds of animals that do some pretty crazy things! For example, did you know that giraffes clean their ears with their tongues? Or that food passes through a giant squid's brain before going to its stomach? It's true!50 Wacky Things Animals Do describes 50 unbelievable animals and the things they do that seem too crazy to be true - but are! Whether incredible, funny, or just plain gross, these peculiar and fascinating animal behaviors will surprise and delight fun-fact lovers and future zoologists alike. You'll have so much fun you'll be doing handstands like you were a skunk (something they really do!) and laughing like a hyena (how they really communicate!).

“A must-have for young ones interested in history and geology alike.” —Aaron Kepley Fifty years before the California Gold Rush, twelve-year-old Conrad Reed unearthed a shiny rock from a creek in North Carolina. Conrad had struck gold―but he had no idea. For three years, the Reed family unknowingly used a hunk of solid gold worth thousands of dollars as a doorstop. When news finally got out about Conrad’s discovery, the lives of the Reeds―and the history of the South―was changed forever. Their ordinary farm was transformed into a family-run business that launched a thriving economical shift for the state, attracting miners and investors from all over. Follow the explosive journey of this Southern state as it became the site of America’s first gold rush.

Young animal lovers will delight in all the crazy things animals do that seem too crazy to believe, but are really true! This book describes real animals and their wacky quirks, whether incredible, funny, or just plain gross, these peculiar and fascinating animal behaviors will surprise and delight fun-fact lovers of all ages. Everything from giraffes cleaning their ears with their tongues to frogs freezing in the winter!

Young animal lovers will delight in all the crazy things animals do that seem too crazy to believe, but are really true! This book describes real animals and their wacky quirks, whether incredible, funny, or just plain gross, these peculiar and fascinating animal behaviors will surprise and delight fun-fact lovers of all ages. Everything from vultures vomiting roadkill at would-be attackers to naked mole rats who run just as fast backwards as they do forwards is covered.