January 2018 - Between the Pages: NEW MEXICO BOOK CO-OP BOOK IDEAS FOR THE NEW YEAR

Happy New Year! We have given you some ideas of New Mexico books to read for 2018. A book keeps giving for years. If your bookstore is out of any books, you can order them and they come quickly. Many are also available on Amazon. For fast delivery try calling or emailing the publisher who will get to you ASAP.

Paul Pletka: Imagined Wests by Amy Scott. University of Oklahoma Press, $65, hardback.

This might be one of my best books ever! Yes, it is University of Oklahoma, but Paul Pletka lives and works in Santa Fe so it is fine. It is just a beautiful book. Pletka is one of my favorites with his unusual style. He paints Native Americans, Hispanics, santos, nature, and many other things. His colors are eye popping. Any fan of the arts of the Southwest will love this book.

How the Crocka Dog Came To Be, text & illustrations by Ross Van Dusen, Rio Grande Books, $21.95, hardback.

This award-winning book tackles bullying without putting it in your child’s face. The book shows a puppy who turned into Crocka Dog when he was attacked and bullied. But love saved him and gives us an important lesson. The illustrations are bold and beautiful. A perfect gift for a boy or girl. Who doesn’t like puppies?

Song of the Lion by Anne Hillerman, Harper Collins, $27.99, hardback, or $15.99, softback, & ebook.

You know the Hillerman name. Anne can write like her father, Tony. She honors the Native Americans of the Four Corners as the subject of her books. The series continues with Chee and Leaphorn and this book starts with a car bomb in Shiprock High’s parking lot. Certainly one book is a good gift but for someone special who hasn’t discovered Anne Hillerman, give the whole series of three books. They will spend winter reading and that is a good thing!

Images of Modern America: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta by the AIBF Heritage Committee. Arcadia Publishing, $22.99, softback.

This is the perfect souvenir of the Balloon Fiesta or to give to someone coming next year. Yes, people plan a year in advance! It has history, personalities, and lot of color pictures of balloons and of course the Special Shapes. It would also be a fun gift for a middle school or high school student. Not a lot of text but some great pictures. Combine it with the bumper sticker and brochure for the 2018 Balloon Fiesta and you are golden. (You can get them FREE at the AIBF office on Alameda!)

Check out these other books:

Any of the Bucket List and Checklist books from Rio Grande Books – Christmas, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Fly Fisherman’s, Space Buff, Hot Air Balloon, Cowboy, Paranormal, Green Chile Cheeseburger, Genealogy Checklist, and Kicking the Bucket List Book. Combine them with a pen and they are set for 2018. Personal Bucket List Book is completely blank for filling in.