Freed slaves who headed West to start careers in the army after the Civil War were nicknamed buffalo soldiers by the Cheyenne Indians because of their hair and their displays of strength. A buffalo soldier's account of the bravery and courage of the Tenth Calvary during the Indian wars and the Spanish-American War. Grade 3-6–They promise to pay me thirteen dollars a month. More money than that I never saw at once. This poetic narrative evokes the emotion of emancipation and the courage and endurance of a newly freed man who joins the U.S. Army, protecting new settlements from Indians and bandits while earning a living, an education, and the respect of his country. He worries about family left at home and takes pride in a paycheck, finding a new life but facing loneliness in a life lived apart from loved ones. …Sally says she hopes my fingers freeze off so I can't sign up for five more years. Paired with watercolor illustrations, each spread echoes the daily life of a buffalo soldier. This brief story both informs and pulls at the heartstrings of readers as the retired man compares his experiences to those of his son fighting in World War II, while readers view the shadow of his former comrades riding past his porch rocker. –Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Using the perspective of a fictional recruit, Garland recounts the history of the two African American cavalry regiments that served the U.S. from 1866 through 1953. Nicknamed "buffalo soldiers" by the Cheyenne Indians because of their curly hair and bravery, the men protected settlers on the western frontier, marched up San Juan Hill in 1898, and continued to serve until the military was integrated at the end of the Korean War. Garland's mythical enlistee sees the regiment as a means to earn a steady income, obtain an education, and gain respect, despite adversity on and off the battlefield. Himler's vibrant illustrations capture the broad vistas of western landscape, the excitement of horseback pursuit, and the hardships of the work, at the same time conveying respect for the loyal soldiers who endured it all. An author's note provides more about these soldiers and their contributions, making this an excellent introduction to a sometimes-overlooked part of American history. Kay Weisman Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved 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 acclaimed Voices 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 her Voices Series to bring a personal note to pivotal moments in America’s past. The series includes Voices 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 Force and 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 Notable
