NonFiction Monday: Texas Rangers

Dewey: 976.4








Texas Rangers: Legendary Lawmen by Michael P. Spradlin, illustrations by Roxie Munro. Walker & Co., 2008

Here in the Lone Star State, the social studies curriculum calls for teaching Texas history in fourth grade and seventh grade. I have spent many an hour in the exhibits at TLA searching out related nonfiction. For the most part there are a "specialty" publishers who feature biographies of heroes of Texas independence, governors, and journalists.

Often these books are "one size fits all" attempts that they hope to sell to junior high and elementary schools. Many of the titles are written on a grade 6 reading level, splitting the difference between fourth and seventh grade? This is not helpful to elementary school librarians.

When I saw Michael Spradlin's profile on JacketFlap, I noted this new book and sought it out at the TLA library conference this past spring.

Spradlin's story of the Texas Rangers progresses chronologically, from their origins as Texas "Minute Men," through the days of the Republic to the oil boom of the early 20th century through today. I did not know that the Texas state legislature mandates the number of Rangers serving, there are only about 120 at any given time. A single vacancy can attract over 100 applicants.

Much of the history of the Rangers is founded in the personalities who wore the badge. John B. Armstrong, Lone Wolf Gonzaullas, Frank Hamer were responsible for the capture of some of the most notorious outlaws in American history, including John Wesley Hardin and Bonnie and Clyde.

The picture book aspect might discourage junior high librarians from adding this title to their collections. Do not make that mistake. Spradlin's writing is concise but not simplistic.

Roxie Munro's clear, bright illustrations depict the daring-do of the Rangers. Her distinctive style commemorates the landscape and the personalities who shaped the state.

Many libraries here own her Inside-Outside Texas, 2001.
I have to believe Spradlin must have done a happy dance when he heard she was to be his illustrator. The layout and even the typeface evoke the history that shapes the Texas outlook today.

I would urge publishers to follow suit with more lovely, full color Texas nonfiction. I am thankful to Spradlin and Munro for this gift.

I believe they will sell a copy to every library in Texas. As iconic as the Texas Rangers are, there is a place for the title in American history collections across the country.

Now, will someone, please, offer a similar treatment for Stephen F. Austin a.k.a. "the father of Texas?"



Michael P. Spradlin website
Roxie Munro website

Long Distance Booktalking

So, family is enroute towards the entling no. 2's recital. It is Springtime in Texas.

Winters are soft compared to other areas of the country. We do not have to shovel snow or blizzards, well sometimes in the panhandle. We do face the occasional hurricane and our rainstorms are frequently of Old Testament magnitude. Fall is ok, we even get some color in the trees most years. In the Summer, the Gulf of Mexico bathes the coastal plain in moisture which combines with stifling heat, causing most of us to dart quickly from air conditioned space to air conditioned space.

But, Springtime in Texas is the bonus that allows us to glory in the outdoors. Traveling over the back roads of the Lone Star State these past two weekends, we have gloried in thick patches and expanses of bluebonnets. The blooms shade from deepest blue at the bottom towards white at the tip. This week, the orange-red Indian paintbrush is beginning to take hold along with a tall yellow bloom that causes the medians and fields on either side of the highway to glow with gold light. I cannot drive through Texas in the Spring and not silently thank God for the life of Lady Bird Johnson. It is magnificent.

While we ooh-ed and aah-ed our way down the byway yesterday, I got a call from the entsister.
She was in Barnes and Noble with the entniece and entnephew buying books and she wanted to ask me about some titles before purchase.

Me: No, don't buy Airman, I have a signed copy for him.

The hilarious thing was, while we talked about the pile of books they were trying to whittle down, she began to get inquiries from other patrons in the bookstore.

Stranger: Ask your sister about this one....

Other stranger: Has she read...

My sister is on the other side of the country and I was booktalking to strangers into a cell phone as we wheeled down the back roads of Texas.

What a hoot!

The good news was, the entnephew and entniece ended up with three books each instead of two.

Go me!!!