Books published by publisher Fountain Press

Following the Sonoran Desert of the American Southwest through its five seasons�spring, dry summer, wet summer, autumn, and winter�Hidden Life of the Desert uses stunning color photographs and clear, informative text to introduce young readers to many plants and animals that thrive in this unique ecosystem. At first glance the hot valley floors and rugged mountainsides may seem barren and inhospitable, but look closely and you may find howling mice and toads that pop out of the sand. With patience you�ll see giant centipedes, bobcats, and miniature owls. You could even catch a glimpse of a Gila monster, the only poisonous lizard in the United States.This greatly expanded edition of Hidden Life of the Desert follows in the footsteps of a Crown Books for Young Readers (1990) edition that made the John Burrough�s List of Outstanding Nature Books for Young Readers. New in the 2010 edition are expanded text, more pictures, maps, a glossary, plant and animal species lists, an index, and an annotated list of recommended books and Web sites. But perhaps most important is the addition of a thought-provoking chapter titled �Facing the Future,� which considers where water in the West comes from, how we use it, and how energy and water use are connected.

Did you know that honey is really bee barf? That grizzly bears sometimes eat rotting meat? Or that turkey vultures poop on their own feet? Nature's Yucky uses kids' natural fascination with the stinky, the gross, and the icky to help them learn more about wild animals and why critters behave as they do.Younger children will love having the book read to them, while older children and adults will also enjoy the "Animal Facts" section in the back, which has more in-depth information on the featured animals. Kids of all ages will get a kick out of learning to identify the droppings of various animals by making (and eating!) "scat cookies." Lovely watercolor illustrations balance out the "yuckiness," reminding us that nature is not just disgusting, but beautiful, too.

The men of Company E rode big gray horses that stood out amidst the confusion during the afternoon of June 25, 1876. Twenty-eight of these men were found dead in a ravine after the fighting ceased. But which ravine? Why couldn't the army find their bones only a few years later? Why didn't archaeological excavations uncover any remains? The answers, finally, are at hand.

In 1889, a young spunky British woman of genteel upbringing set sail for the United States�against her family's wishes. She traveled with a friend, Ewen Cameron, the man who later became her husband. They were bound for eastern Montana to hunt big game along the Yellowstone River, only thirteen years after the Battle of the Little Bighorn. The next fall the Camerons returned to England, packed up, and moved to Montana, where they lived for the rest of their lives. They first rented a ranch on the Powder River, among other British expatriates, to raise polo ponies for export to England. After years of limited success in the pony trade, they bought a small herd of cattle, settling into a more dependable existence of ranching and market gardens.In her first biography, author Lorna Milne uses diaries and letters to reconstruct how Evelyn lived in the harsh eastern Montana landscape and how she became an extraordinary photographer. Evelyn may have been born in England, but through heart and temperament, she was a Westerner. She was resourceful, hard working, observant, artistic, adaptable. According to her contemporary, a traveling Englishwoman, Evelyn was described as �one of the great wonders of Montana.�

What animal can weigh half a ton, run 45 mph with 70 pounds strapped to its skull, belt out haunting bugles that carry for miles, and endure 100 stab wounds a year in its side from fighting? Elk can. Native tribes called them Wapiti, the “White Rump.” No animal is quite like the elk―a true symbol of wildness. The Wild Life of Elk captures this legendary animal in all its glory, following the species though the seasons and through the centuries. It explores the many habitats in which elk thrive, the mythic growth cycle of their antlers and the intricacies of their social structure. The book follows the species through history and shows the many ways that humans have depended on it for eons. Learn how elk defend themselves during fights and from attacking predators, give birth in some of the most majestic locations imaginable, and have adapted to survive brutal winters and blistering heat. Elk remain one of the most dramatic manifestations of the American wilderness, and this book pays them a grand tribute.

In 1896 Lt. James Moss, second lieutenant at Fort Missoula, Montana, had a revolutionary idea: that bicycles, a relatively new innovation, could be employed by the military to replace cavalry horses for certain operations. Bikes did not need food, water, or rest; they would not die; they would never disobey their rider; and they were nearly noiseless. The eager young lieutenant set out to test this idea and prove the worth of the bicycle in army campaigns. Stationed at Fort Missoula at the time was the 25th Infantry, and all-black regiment. From these African American troops, Lt. Moss chose an elite group to form the Bicycle Corps and attempt a historic 2,000-mile journey to St. Louis. In the The Great Bicycle Experiment, Kay Moore chronicles this challenging journey, highlighting the hardships and triumphs of these stalwart soldiers as they pedaled and pushed their way across the mountains and plains into history. Perfect for school or home, The Great Bicycle Experiment is both a valuable historical resource and an entertaining adventure story for readers young and old.

Did you know that white-tailed bucks eat the bloody velvet shed from their antlers? Or that bobcats use their tongues as toilet paper? Or that leopard frogs barf so hard their stomach comes out of their mouth? Nature�s Yucky! 3, the third installment in the Nature�s Yucky! series, dishes up the disgusting-yet-fascinating explanations for these odd behaviors as well as those of thirteen other denizens of the eastern United States. The book�s dazzling full-color illustrations and writing that begs to be read out loud will mesmerize younger children, whereas in-depth information in the �More Fun Facts� appendix will grab the attention of older children and adults. All readers will enjoy the bird-poop caterpillar pretzels that can be made from the included recipe. Nature may be yucky, but Nature's Yucky! 3 illuminates how the nauseating traits of animals help make the natural world a diverse and interesting place.

From the Blackfeet warrior Running Eagle to the stereotype-smashing librarian Alma Jacobs, the eleven women portrayed in this engaging book were indeed bold�breaking down barriers of sexism, racism, and political opposition to emerge as heroines of their time. The third in this Mountain Press�s state-by-state series for teen readers, Bold Women in Montana History reveals the feminine side of the Tresure State�s storied past. Within these pages are stories of fearless femmes who dared to dream and resolved to take action. Among them we meet Annie Morgan, a Philipsburg homesteader whose mysterious life is only now coming to light; the bronc-riding Greenough sisters, Alice and Marge, who became rodeo stars during the sport�s heyday; and Elouise Cobell, champion of Native American rights.

Do you know one of those kids who asks impossible questions about scientific processes and expects answers? Their intellectual curiosity is charming, but the questions can be challenging to answer. Now there�s a fun, entertaining book to answer some of those questions. Using pictures and language that children will understand and enjoy, author Catherine Morley combines her talents as a geologist, educator, and illustrator to describe how mountains form. Detailed illustrations with numerous rock layers, fossils, and even animals will thrill preschoolers, and the whimsical yet scientifically accurate descriptions about planet Earth will capture the imagination of budding elementary-age scientists. An illustrated glossary helps readers visualize terms such as lava and volcano, and the final page tells the stories of six well-known mountains.

When you wander a woodland forest, skip through a sunlit meadow, or ramble down a dusty path, you might see a furry tail, a bristly beard, or a fuzzy toe. Did you catch a glimpse of an animal? Or was it a plant in disguise? These wild plants aren�t wearing masks or funny noses, but each one displays a feature of a creature. With charming illustrations, engaging prose, and intriguing natural history notes, author Lise Hedegaard and illustrator Debi Schmid introduce elementary-age children to twenty-one native plants with animal names. Budding naturalists and animal lovers alike will delight in peering into the magnifying glass on each page spread for a closer look at the animal feature of plants such as pussytoes, cranesbill, and the cattail. This fresh approach to observing the amazing world of plants and animals makes Plants in Disguise a must-have for schools and libraries.

Seargeant Patrick Gass was one of the few members of the Lewis and Clark expedition to keep a continuous log of the entire epic journey. His simple and direct wrting style, along with his emphasis on the daily activities of the trip, made Gass's journal more accessible to the general reader than other firsthand accounts and revealed the optimistic spirit of the expedition:The determined and resolute character...of the corps, and the confidence which pervaded all ranks dispelled every emotion of fear, and anxiety for the present; while a sense of duty, and of the honour, which would attend the completion of the object of the expedition; a wish to gratify the expectations of the government, and of our fellow citizens, with the feelings which novelty and discovery invariably inspire, seemed to insure to us ample support in our future toils, suffering, and dangers."In this new edition, Carol MacGregor's thorough annotation of the journal and the inclusion of Gass's recently discovered personal account ledger lend new insight into the life and work of Patirck Gass. The Journals of Patrick Gass represents a significant contribution to the study of the Lewis and Clark expedition, essential for everyone intersted in the history of Western expansion.

Niki Kawa was 7 years-old she published her first book, Quotes Are Life 1, while writing Forest Adventure. This is a bilingual book to inspire children to read and write stories. Through her books, Niki wants to show us different ways to see the world because she considers that the difference lies in perspective. Cuando tenía 7 años, Niki publicó su primer libro, Quotes Are Life 1, al mismo tiempo que escribía Forest Aventure. Este es un libro bilingüe para inspirar a los niños a leer y a escribir historias, A través de sus libros, Niki quiere enseñarnos otras maneras de ver el mundo, porque considera que la diferencia está en la perspectiva.