Stories that are like the facets of a diamond cut from all sides, shining for our attention. Some of America's most colorful stories come out of the settling of the Western frontier. We have compelling, true stories of women struggling on the prairie, enduring a long journey west only to find that their work had just begun.
Painful narratives describe American Indian tribes fighting for their land and their way of life.
Invigorating accounts tell of mountain men fending off grizzlies or cowboys driving hundreds of cattle across the prairie. Of course we also have inspiring stories of Buffalo Soldiers or men like Nat Love who sought freedom in the open spaces of the West. These stories help to define what it means to be an American. When foreigners think of America, they often conjure up images of cowboys or American Indians. Reading about the West can introduce children to this quintessentially American experience.