Buffalo Soldier, The - Tapa dura

2008 Storytelling World Award Honor Title

2007 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Selection

2006 Texas Institute of Letters Award/Children’s Book Finalist

“This poetic narrative evokes the emotion of emancipation . . . both informs and pulls at the heartstrings of readers.”

—School Library Journal

“Himler’s vibrant illustrations capture the broad vistas of western landscape, the excitement of horseback pursuit, and the hardships of the work . . . an excellent introduction to a sometimes-overlooked part of American history.”

—Booklist

Award-winning author Sherry Garland and master artist Ronald Himler, the team behind the critically acclaimedVoices of the Alamo, give us another humanized account of American history.

The African-American buffalo soldiers, nicknamed by the Cheyenne Indians because of their curly hair and bravery, joined the six black regiments commissioned by an act of Congress in 1866. These men, many of whom were former slaves, enlisted in the army to earn a steady income, acquire an education, and gain respect.

This fascinating story of one buffalo soldier’s service to his country during the Indian Wars and Spanish-American War shows the many hardships these regiments faced. As told through the soldier-narrator’s voice, the life of one buffalo soldier is revealed as the reader learns what he ate, where he slept, the education he gained on and off the battlefield, how he spent his hard-earned money, and what he and the other soldiers did for recreation.

Sherry Garland, a fifth-generation Texan and the author of thirty books, enjoys writing about history and created herVoices Series to bring a personal note to pivotal moments in America’s past. The series includesVoices of Pearl Harbor, Voices of the Dust Bowl, Voices of Gettysburg, and Voices of the Alamo. Some of her other titles include Best Horse on the Forceand Children of the Dragon: Selected Tales from Vietnam, available from Pelican. Her books have received many honors, including selection for the American Library Association’s Notable Children’s Books, Best Books for Young Adults, the Reading Rainbow Award, the Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List, and the California Young Reader Medal Program. Garland is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and lives in central Texas.

Ronald Himler has been illustrating children’s books since 1971 and has more than eighty books to his credit. His work has received numbers honors, including ALA Notables, the Society of Illustrators Silver Medal, and citations on the Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List.