Southwest Books of the Year
Deborah Bock's Picks
Deborah Bock is an information services and special collections librarian with the Pima County Public Library.
Butterflies of Arizona: A Photographic Guide
by Bob Stewart and Priscilla Brodkin and Hank Brodkin (West Coast Lady Press)
Imagine trying to photograph butterflies! The authors have captured over 300 species found in Arizona - only Texas can boast more. With butterfly watching carving a niche in the eco-tourism industry of Southeast Arizona, this field guide represents an important and comprehensive resource. A concise description for each species includes key field marks, size, season adults fly, host plants, range, habitat, similar species, and special notes. Since a high percentage of these species are found in neighboring states, this new guide will be a "must-have" for the shelf or backpack of many "butterflyers" and wildlife enthusiasts.
A Land So Remote: Volumes 1 and 2 - Religious Art of New Mexico, 1780-1907; Volume 3 - Wooden Artifacts of Frontier New Mexico, 1700s-1900s
by Larry Frank and Skip Miller (Red Crane Books)
In frontier New Mexico, objects crafted from wood, a plentiful resource, were utilized in all aspects of daily life - agricultural, domestic, and religious. The annual Traditional Spanish Market in Santa Fe reflects the continued regional popularity of Hispanic folk art - much of it religious in nature. If you appreciate this art and its historical antecedents, A Land So Remote, presents a museum-like experience. With the heft of each volume, gloss of the pages, and copious colored plates, you can't help but appreciate the quality (hence, $50 per volume!) The authoritative and lively text illuminates the importance of these objects.
We'll Be in Your Mountains, We'll Be in Your Songs: A Navajo Woman Sings
by Ellen McCullough-Brabson and Marilyn Help (University of New Mexico Press)
Numerous books have been published about Navajo history and culture. However, University of New Mexico music professor McCullough-Brabson and Help, a Navajo teacher, have created a unique one in focusing on Navajo music and including a CD. Their intent was not to create a work solely of interest to the expert on music or culture. In detailed examination of each of the 12 songs, they also provide a broader context of social, historical, or religious events in Navajo life. Anyone with an interest in the Navajo will find their collaboration accessible and enjoyable.
Desert Landscaping for Beginners: Tips and Techniques for Success in an Arid Climate
edited by Cathy Cromwell, illustrated by Carole Palmer (Arizona Master Gardener Press)
The Master Gardeners of the Maricopa County Cooperative Extension Service have compiled an indispensable primer for the true novice. Based on calls (more than 25,000 annually) received through the Gardener Hotline, chapters reflect basic information about selecting, transplanting, and pruning trees and shrubs, watering desert landscapes, identifying and solving plant problems, growing wildflowers, landscaping to attract wildlife, planting and caring for cacti and succulents as well as citrus trees, roses, and even lawns. Simple black and white diagrams/illustrations and handy, easy-to-read charts/tables complement the fundamental nature of the text.
Also selected:
- American Character
- Grand Ambition
- Southwest Inside Out
- Sunk Without a Sound
- Understanding the Arizona Constitution
- Women's Tales from the New Mexico WPA, La Diabla a Pie