We are nearing the end of the year and we still have  a lot to do!

I wanted to let you know that we will begin our Apple Valley School Unit soon and this is an important part of Second Grade at CCJDS.

Replicating the school experience of the mid-1800s, this simulation has students playing for enough points to graduate to the next grade. Students write in a diary, create clothespin dolls, do old-fashioned math drills, and work in groups, giving them insights into the history and the beginnings of the school system. Students are also encouraged to read literature available at the time such as “Little House on the Prairie” and write about the pioneer experience.

Buffalo Bill by Ingri and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire. This beautifully illustrated large format paperback is the perfect way for elementary age children to meet this famous plainsman, sharpshooter, and showman. 40 pages. $11.95*

Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express
Part of the I Can Read Series, this book for 2-3 grade readers is based on the real-life exploits of Buffalo Bill Cody. Cat. # 15, 3.59-D

Cassie’s Journey: Going West in the 1860′s by Brett Harvey. Illustrated by Deborah Ray. Based on actual accounts taken from Women’s Diaries of the Westward Journey by Lillian Schliffel, this book tells the story of a family who leaves Illinois in the mid 1800’s to seek a better life in California. Told from the viewpoint of a young girl. Middle Elementary reading level. Illustrated on each page with B/W drawings that  capture the spirit of the words. Trade paper picture book. 6.26-D

Children of the Wild West
Just what was it like to be a child coming west in a wagon train in the 1800’s? And what was it like to settle the West? This book will honestly answer the question both in the text and with the pictures taken of the pioneers who were on those wagon trains. Russell Freedman also describes the life of the Indians and shares the pictures he’s found of them. A perfect resource for those studying the settling of the West. For grades 3-6. BTH-2363. $6.95*  Sold Out

Cowboys of the Wild West
Russell Freedman tells us and shows us with his collected maps and black-and-white photos what the Wild West was really like for cowboys. The photos date back to the late 1800’s, and the narrative accurately depicts the cowboy life as described by Ralph Moody and others who worked as cowboys during that era. A junior should be able to handle the reading, but even adults will learn something from reading this book. It will appeal to those interested in cowboys, horses, or ranching. BTH-2364. $7.16-D

Going West! Journey on a Wagon Train to Settle a Frontier Town by Carol A Johmann and Elizabeth Rieth. A Kaleidoscope Kids Book full of adventures and activities that will give readers ages 6-13 and their families and friends a feel for what it was like to build a prairie schooner in Independence and stock it for the trip (and make some “bump-along better and dry some fruit), travel the Erie Canal and construct a working canal lock, build a paddle boat to take down the Ohio River, and lay some track to ride the rails. Readers can also construct a model of Fort Laramie, sadly revisit the Trail of Tears, and much, much more. 96 big pages that will beg to be read and acted upon. Trade paper. BTH-2368. $9.86-D.

How Would You Survive in the American West? by David Salariya. This book transports the reader back into pioneer days, with a new identity, by giving detailed information on daily life situations the pioneers faced and the problems they had to solve. Readers then can quiz themselves to rate how they would have been able to survive had they been pioneers going west. Includes an illustrated time spiral and map and time span, a glossary, and an index. 48 pages, about 8 ½ x 11¼’. For ages 10-13, reading level grades 5-8. $7.15-D

Kit Carson, by J. Gleiter.
A biography of the famous mountain man for children 6-11. Full-color illustrations. Cat. # 717, $5.39-D

If You Traveled West in a Covered Wagon by Ellen Levine. This book, at about third grade reading level, explains what it was like to be a pioneer and travel west to Oregon in the 1840’s. 80 pages. BTH-1038. $5.39-D

Little House Cookbook: Frontier Foods from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Classic Stories:More than 100 recipes from Wilder’s childhood, each prefaced by a short essay on the dish’s origins, development, and characteristics. $8.96-D

Long Way to a New Land
This story of a Swedish family emigrating across the Atlantic to America in 1868 describes the many hardships they endured — hunger, the rough ocean voyage, and the confusion (mixed with joy) when they arrived. Part of the I Can Read Series, Level 3  for grades 2-4. BTH-2371. 3.56-D

Long Way Westward
This sequel to Long Way to a New Land follows Carl Erik’s family from New York city to their new home in the farmlands of Minnesota .Part of the I Can Read Seies, for 2-3rd grade readers.BTH-2372.  $3.56-D

Matchlock Gun

Set near Albany, New York, in 1757, this book deals with courage and obedience. A lack of either would have meant death at the hands of the Indians. Edward’s father has gone away overnight to fight the Indians with the militia. When the Indians attack Edward’s home, he must remember and follow Mother’s instructions precisely to save his family. $5.35-D

 My Book of Little House Paper Dolls: The Big Woods Collection, includes two giant pull-out scenes. You’ll find Laura, Mary, Baby Carrie, Ma Pa, and their faithful bulldog, Jack. From helping Ma gather food in the garden to watching Pa play his fiddle, children can be part of laura and Mary’s happy days in the Little House in the Big Woods. Sturdy dolls on heavy stock. BTH-5658. $7.95.*

 My Little House Crafts Book: 18 Projects from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House Stories by Carolyn Collins and Christian Eriksson. .Share a part of Laura’s pioneer days by learning how to make some of the same things that she and her family made for their homes on the frontier. These include Charlotte’s Straw Hat, Ma’s Embroidered Pillow-Sham, Mary’s Christmas Tassels, Ma’s Button Lamp, Mary’s Beaded Bracelet and Ring, Laura’s Corncob Doll, Ma’ s Willow-Bough Broom, Ma’s Prairie Garden, Alice’s Straw Air-Castle, Baby Carrie’s Button String, Laura’s Bear’s-Track Quilt Pillow, Pa and Laura’s Hay Sticks, Laura’s Woolen Hood and Muffler, Little Town patty Mapkins, Little Town Orange Flowers, Mary’s Beaded Lamp Mat, and Laura’s Golden Wheat-Sheaf Bread.

Each project has some historical background related to the books, a list of things needed, and illustrated step-by-step instructions. There is an index at the end. 36 pages. BTH-2373. $10.76-D

 My First Book of Cowboy Songs
21 favorite songs in easy piano arrangements by Dolly Moon. Illustrated by Frederick Remington. Words included. Black and white illustrations are perfect to color.BTH-2375. $3.56-D

A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett by Himself.
Davy Crockett describes his earliest days in Tennessee, his two marriages, his career as an Indian fighter, his bear hunts, and his political life. This book was written in 1834, a year before Crockett lost his congressional seat, before the Alamo.The first fifth of the book contains an introduction by Paul Andrew Hutton, a professor of history at the University of New Mexico. It contains more biographical information, but on a more adult level. A junior or junior high child could handle reading Crockett’s own words. $9.85.-D

 New Hope by Henri Sorensen. Penguin. Jimmy and his grandfather often visit the statue in the park in the town of New Hope, Minnesota, and Jimmy always likes to hear his grandpa tell the story of how the town began. Jimmy’s great-great-grandfather and his family, fresh from Denmark, were looking for a place to settle. When their wagon axle broke, they stopped to repair it, looked around, and decided to stay right where they were. A beautifully illustrated picture book for children ages 3-8. Trade paper. BTH-2376. $5.39-D.

 Pioneer Life Sticker Picture with 50 Reusable Peel and Apply Stickers. This is an oversize Dover book. The inside covers are 18 1/2″ x 12 1/4″ laminated backdrops (interior of log cabin with fireplace, etc.; homesteader’s small farm)where students can add any or all of the full-color stickers depicting family members engaged in various pioneer tasks, cooking pots, a cast-iron stove, a kerosene lamp, animals, furniture, etc. It helps children visualize life in a log cabin. BTH-5659. $4.50-D

A Pioneer Sampler: The Daily Life of a Pioneer Family in 1840 by Barbara Greenwood. Meet the fictional Robertsons and follow them through the details of everyday life on the frontier. Full of hands-on activities and great illustrations by Heather Collins. See how pioneers planted their crops, preserved and cooked their food, got an education, raised animals, got honey from bees, made thir clothes, and made the things they needed. you will learn some of these skills, too, by following the recipes and step-by-step instructions for weaving, dyeing clothes, candle-dipping, stenciling,and making butter, shadow puppets, and more. For grades 3-7. Paper. BTH-2377. $9.85-D

A Pioneer Thanksgiving: A Story of Harvest Celebrations in 1841 by Barbara Greenwood. Illustrated by Heather Collins. Trade paper. 48 pages with index. This is both a story of how a pioneer family prepares to celebrate their Thanksgiving holiday and a great resource for hands-on activities for those studying the pioneers. Readers will learn how to make cranberry sauce from scratch, play Conkers with chestnuts, and the Peach-Stone Game (made form nuts or peach stones.) They will learn to weave a nutting basket and make bread.  They will learn the superstitions surrounding the making of the  Corn Dolly, along with the instructions for making one. They will also learn to watch the weather and make a weather vane. This book differs from most activities books because the project ideas arise naturally from the story. some might feel there is too much emphasis on the secular and pagan traditions as opposed to the Christian history of Thanksgiving in this country. The characters in the story do finally finish their preparations and gather at the table. Three typical blessing prayers are given as examples. A brief history of the Thanksgiving holiday and the various harvest festivals that preceded it give the Pilgrims about one paragraph. For ages 8-12. BTH-1997. $5.36-D

Quilt-Block History of Pioneer Days With Projects Kids Can Make
To pioneers who went west, warm quilts were prized possessions — and the quilts they made reflected their adventurous lives. Each colorful pattern in this book tells a story about America’s early days. Simple papercraft projects let children make their own quilt designs without mastering sewing skills. BTH-2378.  $8.06-D

Riders of the Pony Express by Ralph Moody. Bison Books, 2004. Ralph Moody brings to life the history of the Pony Express and its riders as it operated between April 1860 and October 1861, as only Ralph Moody can tell a story. Reading level is for about grade 4 and up. Originally published by Houghton Mifflin in 1958. BTH-2579. $11.66-D

Stagecoach by Mansir. Imagine yourself riding in a stagecoach through the American wilderness. This book is full of journal entries, photographs, maps, diagrams, and paintings to assist your imagination.  You’ll learn what travel was really like back then. Has index and time-line. Paper, 32 pages. Read the book, then build the model. BTH-2379. $6.95* Out of print. I have a few left.

 Build A Wells Fargo Stagecoach by Richard A. Mansir. After you’ve read Mansir’s Stagecoach, build the model. Includes stagecoach, driver, six horses, and passenger. It’s easy to assemble with press-out parts. No tools or glue are required to make this authentic 1:24 scale model. Now out of print. I only have one left. Sorry the edge of the image is cut off, but this was too big for the scanner. It does show you how the model will look minus some of the horses. Hard to find. BTH-2380. $8.95*

The West: An Illustrated History for Children by Dayton Duncan. Little, Brown and Company, 1996.
This companion volume to the public television series “The West” is illustrated with historic black and white photos. It begins with the native Americans and missionaries prior to 1805 and continues into the 20th century. 136 pages. BTH-3621.   $10.95 $7.93-B

Tree in the Trail by Holling C. Holling.
A cottonwood tree watches the pageant of history on the Santa Fe Trail for over 200 years. This book is beautifully illustrated by the author with full page color spreads and smaller pencil drawings of details suggested by the larger pictures. Great book for those studying the Westward Movement. Large format,  oversize.  BTH-2383.  $10.76.-D

Wagon Wheels
A young African-American boy describes the wilderness adventures of his pioneering family in Kansas in the 1870’s. Part of the I Can Read Series, Level 3 for grades 2-4. BTH-2384. $3.59-D

War with Mexico by William Jay Jacobs. Millbrook Press, 1993, soft cover. 64 pages. Discusses the issues, including Manifest Destiny, that led to the war between the United States and Mexico in 1846, the events of the war, and its impact. May have light shelf wear. Out of Print.  #156294-7761. $10.99*

Westward Ho: An Activity Guide to the Wild West by Lauri Carlson. Chicago Review Press, 1996.  For ages 5-12. This book is full of hands-on activities to help children imagine what it was like for the pioneers and explorers who pushed westward on the American frontier. Beginning with a timeline to put things in perspective, it explains briefly the early history of the West, enhanced with a couple of horse-related activities. A unit on Lewis and Clark follows, with a recipe for portable soup, instructions on how to make a field book, a journal, and moccasins, as well doing some Appaloosa printing. The unit on the mountain men and fur traders has several more activities, including making a possibilities bag and Indian Fry Bread. In the gold rush unit one learns to pan for gold, make a balance, cook  sourdough flapjacks (and the starter) and Hangtown Fry, and much more. In the unit on wagon train life there are lots of recipes, and you learn to make a travel diary, sunbonnet,  candles and a stealing sticks game. More activities and recipes are introduced in the chapter on settling down at the end of the trail. The last unit is on cowboys, their dress and daily activities. You’ll learn to make a braided leather belt, hatband or bracelet, a leather stamped bookmark, and a poke sack, cook what the cowboys ate on the trail, tie good knots, and more. 149 pages of fun. BTH-2385. $13.46-D