wild west? :S

[Nightshade]

So we have theme days at the library and my boss has been really kind and manipulated the dates so the next one will be before I go off to prague and after Ive finished my exams so that Ill be able to participate properly. Ive even got my first proper planned display and Im in charge of promoting related fiction (all very exciting) and the theme is the 'Wild West'
So I have to make a display and promote 'westerns' to kids, I have some ideas on the display ( Im thinking Im going to turn the table into wagon) but Im having problems finding books... so does any one have any recomendations. And does anyone know much about the wild west?
I also have to come up with a costume but I dont want to be either a cowboy or indian ... surley there is another choice?

So far I m thinking Im going to spread the range to be the american frontiers so Ill count in Alaska nad jack london and the gold rushes and the invention of denim but oter than that Im stuck...Help!

[papayahed]

How about an old west school teacher:

[Virgil]

Stephen Crane has two fine short stories that I know: "The bride Comes to Yelllow Sky" and "The Blue Hotel." I can't think of anything else. I know there where all sorts of pop novels with cowboys, but nothing that seems to be famous that I can remember. Isn't Louis L'Amore a contemporary writer of westerns: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_L'Amour?

Perhaps this web site can help: http://www.cowboy.net/cowboy/index.html

[papayahed]

Larry Mcmurtry has some westerns - Lonesome Dove and the sequel which I can't remember the name.

[Petrarch's Love]

Zane Grey is the first that comes to mind for westerns. Also Louis L'Amour and McMurtry, as already mentioned. Mark Twain's Roughing It is surely a must, and possibly some of his short stories. I suppose you could also include James Fennimore Cooper as an early adventure writer. The Laura Ingalls Wilder books certainly would be a great choice for the western pioneering experience, and have the added bonus of being child friendly for a library event. Willa Cather and Wallace Stegner wrote important and moving works of western literature, though clearly neither is of the shoot 'em up cowboy variety (and I just realized that you specified "kids" as your potential audience above, who might not really be up to Stegner). A perhaps less well known book is Ramona, by Helen Hunt Jackson, which is a great story of adventure and romance set in Spanish California and accessible for older children (twelve or so) I would think. Sarah Plain and Tall is also a really wonderful children's book set on the prairie. There's also Caddie Woodlawn, and perhaps Old Yeller. For little kids, you might just want to track down a book of tall tales from the west (Pecos Bill, Paul Bunyan and so on), and maybe a collection of native American legends or something. You could also look for some non-fiction on life in the old west, or biographies of people like Davy Crockett. Having grown up in the American West, I read a lot of things related to that region as a kid in school (and also as a grown up), so I'll see if I can think of any others that might be good. As for your costume, perhaps you could just be a pioneer woman with one of those prairie sunbonnets.

[andave_ya]

There's a fairly new book out, I think, called Cane River suitable for teens.

[Nightshade]

Virgil, Papaya thanks for those Ill keep them in mind

How about an old west school teacher:

Definetly something to think on so Ill have to raid the charity shops... and replenish my dressing up box.

Zane Grey is the first that comes to mind for westerns. Also Louis L'Amour and McMurtry, as already mentioned. Mark Twain's Roughing It is surely a must, and possibly some of his short stories. I suppose you could also include James Fennimore Cooper as an early adventure writer. The Laura Ingalls Wilder books certainly would be a great choice for the western pioneering experience, and have the added bonus of being child friendly for a library event. Willa Cather and Wallace Stegner wrote important and moving works of western literature, though clearly neither is of the shoot 'em up cowboy variety (and I just realized that you specified "kids" as your potential audience above, who might not really be up to Stegner). A perhaps less well known book is Ramona, by Helen Hunt Jackson, which is a great story of adventure and romance set in Spanish California and accessible for older children (twelve or so) I would think. Sarah Plain and Tall is also a really wonderful children's book set on the prairie. There's also Caddie Woodlawn, and perhaps Old Yeller. For little kids, you might just want to track down a book of tall tales from the west (Pecos Bill, Paul Bunyan and so on), and maybe a collection of native American legends or something. You could also look for some non-fiction on life in the old west, or biographies of people like Davy Crockett. Having grown up in the American West, I read a lot of things related to that region as a kid in school (and also as a grown up), so I'll see if I can think of any others that might be good. As for your costume, perhaps you could just be a pioneer woman with one of those prairie sunbonnets.

Yes Zane Grey was one of the first that came to mind but the more I thought about it the less PC child friendly his books seemed, I had thought f the Prarie books but never having read them am glad someone else said that too.. I had
tottally forgotten Ramona, I did read that as an early teen ... I think itll be alright... and Mark twain? thanks Petra.

Actually come to think of it a pioneer/school teacher would be a great idea .. with jeans underneath probalbly as we are doing line dancing with the kids as a game. If we can find suitable music sheets and H's guitar is alright.

Andave.. thanks for that Ill add it to my list

[kilted exile]

I also have to come up with a costume but I dont want to be either a cowboy or indian ... surley there is another choice?

Yep. A horse

[pussnboots]

I say go with a school marm or how about a sheriff?

[Nightshade]

ehe well never mind its been recheduled and I wont be here... so Ive lost my chance at a display.