Books published by publisher Mountain Press Publishing Company

ANNOTATION: Fourteen short stories capture the quirky and peculiar behavior of horses, both good and ornery. You'll meet buckers, tricksters, and trusted partners: Bearcat is not just a plain crazy hardheaded bucker...but a wise, coolheaded cross between a whirlwind and a ton of brick, Joker is full of old nick and plenty of snorts, and Little Eagle is the seeing eye for a blind cowboy. First published in 1940, Horses I've Known contains some of Will James' most acclaimed short stories.

i>The American Cowboy spans three generations of cowboys in the American West, from the young trail boss of the very first cattle drive from Texas north to the railroads, to his grandson, born after the open range had been fenced in. Discover the danger and thrill of life on the frontier as the history of the cowboy unfolds through the expansion of the cattle business, the growth of the railroads, and the coming of the farmer. Will James brings to life the spirit of the American cowboy.

Among the most widely distributed species on earth, ospreys live on every continent except Antarctica. Their enormous, highly visible nests and exceptional tolerance for people make ospreys one of the most readily observed of all birds of prey. In this scientific yet light-hearted book, readers will become acquainted with ospreys and their life cycle, from courtship, nesting, and raising young to their yearly migratins. Lovely illustrations bring these birds and their aquatic world to life. Suggested activities for home or classroom give kids the chance to explore what it's like to fly, live, and fish like an osprey.

If you see a bird standing on the side of a tree banging its beak against the trunk, chances are you�re watching a woodpecker. Woodpeckers not only dazzle us with their good looks and personality, they exhibit some of the most interesting behaviors in the animal world. Explore this dynamic, exciting group of birds with award-winning children�s science writer Sneed B. Collard III. Discover what scientists have learned about woodpeckers, why woodpeckers drill into trees, and the best way to serve ants at your next sleep-over. Spectacular photographs will help ensure that these birds drill deep into your imagination.

A scorpion grabs you with its claws, but its poison comes from where you'd least expect it--the tip of its tail. A fine-looking chestnut bronc receives the name Scorpion when he explodes unexpectedly after several days of unusually good behavior. "That horse," a bronco-busting cowboy says, "is going to be either mighty good or mighty bad."One day Tim, an outlaw on the run, trades his tired horse for Scorpion, and the two forge a relationship of destiny. Though never a well-broke horse, Scorpion acts truly wicked only when Tim makes poor decisions--thus keeping Tim out of trouble. With a little unsolicited help from Scorpion, Tim finds romance and a reason to clear his name.First published in 1936, Scorpion, A Good Bad Horse is the fifteenth title in the Tumbleweed Series of Will James reprints. James illustrated this tale with 45 pen-and-ink drawings.

i>"His drawings are as authentic, as colorful and as racy as his prose. A grand book." --The SportsmanEach of All in the Day's Riding's twelve chapters highlights a riding theme, from rodeos to round-ups. You'll read stories about drifting with the herd in a blizzard, Dusty's quest for the perfect horse, and the partnerships that form between cowboys and horses. More than 100 illustrations enhance the text with horses bucking, crowhopping, cutting, and stampeding.

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, an 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 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.

"A breath from the range." --The New York Herald TribuneJohn B. Mitchell started out with nothing but a saddle and a long rope--long enough to lasso someone else's cattle. He left Texas in a hurry with an "appropriated" herd and headed north to find a spread of his own. Half a century later he reigned over the Seven X Ranch, a "fair sized outfit" about sixty miles long and more than forty miles wide. With characteristic understatement and drawl, Will James tells the story of life on the Seven X--a story of hard work, tough humor, and longtime friendships. Join John B. and his family on the home ranch as they round up long horns, ride circle with the cowboys, and try in vain to keep tenderfoots from the city out of trouble.