Arizona is unique among American states, not only in its geography and geology but also in the diversity of its climate, in its indigenous animal and plant life, and in the history of its first inhabitants-communities of Indians whose ancestors arrived on the scene more than 20,000 years ago. Arizona is also the youngest of the contiguous mainland states of America...precisely because of these very same factors. Its climate, geography and Indian tribes were major barriers that prevented the territory from becoming widely populated by the Spanish, Mexicans and early European-Americans, and from being used as a cross-roads by American fur/pelt trappers, gold prospectors and settlers who began pushing west in the mid-1800s. Now, it is exactly these same factors that make Arizona a great place to live as well as a world-famous travel destination. The stories of how Arizona finally became what it is today are as amazing as the lay and the beauty of the land. Great background reading for residents and visitors alike, and an ideal gift.

Just a few of the wonderful sights to see in Arizona are represented in this suite. Amazing Arizona!, the first movement, is a tribute to the state as a whole with its grand and majestic sound. The second movement, Painted Desert Jazz, paints the colors of the desert with a blues-like improvisation. Sounds of the Petrified Forest, the third movement, creates a mysterious sound with open fifths and chromatic scales, all in a minor key. Grand Canyon Rag, the final movement, sounds and feels like a classic Scott Joplin rag and has an energetic, joyful sound.

From the Diary ofAnne Frank to Anne of Green Gables, young women love to read stories about real girls who faced incredible challenges and shared indelible truths about the human spirit. Jan Cleere has compiled a wonderful collection of such stories, for a wide range of readers from ten-year-old girls to older readers fascinated by women’s history. Meet Laurette Lovell, born in 1869 with a severe leg deformity, who at age thirteen started on her path to be a renowned pottery artist and painter. Edith Bass, born in 1896, began wrangling mules before the age of nine, leading pack strings up and down the dangerous paths into the Grand Canyon. These two young women, and nine others, are profiled magnificently alongside historic photographs. Today’s readers love to read bold adventures. They’ll never forget these stories of real girls who conquered the West in their own style, spending most or all of their childhood in Arizona. Jan Cleere is a historical researcher and the author of More Than Petticoats: Remarkable Nevada Women, among other books. She lives in Oro Valley, Arizona.

Each fun and intriguing volume offers more than 250 illustrated pages of places where tourists usually don't venture, including oddball curiosities, local legends, crazy characters, and peculiar roadside attractions.

Arizona Bucket List Adventure Guide & Journal takes you on a quest to discover 50 must-see natural wonders in the Grand Canyon State. For each of the 50 places, there's a page that tells you the best time to go, how to get there and how to get permits or passes, if needed. On the opposite page, you check it off your bucket list and journal about your experience. Organized by region: Tourist magnets like Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Monument Valley are in the North Region. In North Central, you'll find tips for amazing sites near Sedona like West Fork Oak Creek, Devil's Bridge, and the vortexes. Other regions include the Superstition Mountains, Lower Salt River, Lake Havasu, Ringbolt (Arizona) Hot Springs, Saguaro National Park, Sabino Canyon, and more.

Inspired by 'Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls' and 'Rad Women A to Z,' Iowa State education professor Katy Swalwell worked with over 25 Iowa women artists and RAYGUN to create an illustrated children's book that celebrates the incredible accomplishments through short biographies of a diverse set of women throughout Iowa's history. The book is available at raygunsite.com.

Here's a way to learn more about the great state of Arizona, while having fun at the same time. Explore the Grand Canyon State through dozens of puzzles about geography, people, history, wildlife and more. It's a great way to pass the time while traveling or just sitting at home!

A richly illustrated and up-close look at the secret lives of spiders and other arachnids The American Southwest is home to an extraordinary diversity of arachnids, from spitting spiders that squirt silk over their prey to scorpions that court one another with kissing and dancing. Amazing Arachnids presents these enigmatic creatures as you have never seen them before. Featuring a wealth of color photos of more than 300 different kinds of arachnids from eleven taxonomic orders--both rare and common species—this stunningly illustrated book reveals the secret lives of arachnids in breathtaking detail, including never-before-seen images of their underground behavior. Amazing Arachnids covers all aspects of arachnid biology, such as anatomy, sociality, mimicry, camouflage, and venoms. You will meet bolas spiders that lure their victims with fake moth pheromones, fishing spiders that woo their mates with silk-wrapped gifts, chivalrous cellar spiders, tiny mites, and massive tarantulas, as well as many others. Along the way, you will learn why arachnids are living fossils in some respects and nimble opportunists in others, and how natural selection has perfected their sensory structures, defense mechanisms, reproductive strategies, and hunting methods. Covers more than 300 different kinds of arachnids, including ones new to science Features more than 750 stunning color photos Describes every aspect of arachnid biology, from physiology to biogeography Illustrates courtship and mating, birth, maternal care, hunting, and defense Includes first-ever photos of the underground lives of schizomids and vinegaroons Provides the first organized guide to macroscopic mites, including photos of living mites for easy reference

Now, for the first time, Arizona visitors and residents can set out on any part of the Arizona National Scenic Trail with a 'bible' of the trail's twists and turns, its flora and fauna, and its geology. In an easy-to-use format, Your Complete Guide to the Arizona National Scenic Trail serves up the 800-mile trail, section by section (43 altogether) so that day-hikers as well as thru-hikers can feel confident about the route. Inspired by the magnificence of the scenery, wildlife, and diversity of terrain, this new book is an irreplaceable source for any hiker, mountain biker, or equestrian heading for the Arizona National Scenic Trail.

"From geological origins and ancient peoples to high-tech industries and world-class golf resorts; from Spanish missions and mining boomtowns to ranching, tourism, and Navajo Code Talkers; from Monument Valley to the Tonto Basin to the Mexican border ... all celebrate the beauty of this majestic state!"--Back cover.