Arizona Rattlesnake Tales

Arizona Rattlesnake Tales
Author: Michael D. Hankins
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Total Pages: 247
Release: 2019-09-23
Genre: History
ISBN: 1977216927

Arizona Rattlesnake Tales takes the reader back in time to experience the unimaginable hardships cowboys and pioneers faced while living amongst the dreaded “rattler,” in a time when antivenom was nonexistent and a rattlesnake bite was often a death sentence. The book includes vintage clippings—unedited reports from 1866–1923 newspapers that paint a clear picture of the extreme adversity and tragedy early settlers dealt with. The tales are scary, exciting, humorous, and oftentimes sad, and they all help to illuminate this fascinating time and place in U.S. history.

If you’re a true Arizona history buff, there’s no other book like Arizona Rattlesnake Tales!

Snake Hunting on the Devil's Highway

Snake Hunting on the Devil's Highway
Author: Richard Lapidus
Publisher: Dog Ear Publishing
Total Pages: 161
Release: 2006-10
Genre: Reptiles
ISBN: 159858216X

On his first snake hunting trip to southeastern Arizona, the author was taunted and belittled by the owner of a small caf because he expressed a fear of insects. The author extracted revenge by releasing a large rattlesnake in the crowded eatery. That's where the fun begins in this humorous accounting of the true-life trials and tribulations of two unlikely friends, Richard Lapidus and Buz Lunsford, as they traveled hundreds of miles each summer to spend a few days and nights hunting for snakes, and found themselves in the middle of situations (sometimes dangerous--always funny), mainly around the Chiricahua National Monument and Highway 666. More than snakes were encountered on the summer trips, however; and, through humorous short stories, other desert creatures are discussed, including bats, arachnids, lizards, frogs, toads, turtles, birds, skunks, insects, spiders, rabbits, coatimundis, rangers, law enforcement officials and other unusual two and four-legged critters. As Master of Ceremonies of the Warren Earp Days and Western Book Exposition in 2002, Richard Lapidus stood before the large group and told the story of his first snake hunting trip to that very city of Willcox, Arizona. There was so much laughter and good cheer that Richard was overwhelmed. He later dusted off his notes, and with the assistance of many people, assembled the stories in this collection.

Soft Child

Soft Child
Author:
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 33
Release: 1993
Genre: Desert animals
ISBN: 0943173892

Soft Child, a poor gentle snake, is worried about getting stepped on as he moves on his belly across the desert. The other animals, especially Jackrabbit, are relentless in their pursuit of this defenseless creature, until Sky God comes up with a lasting solution to the problem--and Soft Child becomes known as "Rattlesnake".

My Pet Rattlesnake

My Pet Rattlesnake
Author: Joe Hayes
Publisher: Cinco Puntos Press
Total Pages: 37
Release: 2014-06-02
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1935955632

Rattlesnakes and storyteller Joe Hayes must have a thing for each other. Joe’s teamed up again with Antonio Castro to tell us how one day he saved a rattlesnake’s life. Sure enough, that made the rattlesnake so happy he followed Joe home. The snake became Joe’s pet. Just like a dog. Oh, wow, Joe’s tall tales get taller every year!

The Gum-Chewing Rattler

The Gum-Chewing Rattler
Author: Joe Hayes
Publisher: Cinco Puntos Press
Total Pages: 35
Release: 2014-01-01
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1933693428

Respected raconteur Joe Hayes is built for tall tales—he’s got the world’s longest legs! And Joe—who travels all over the United States telling stories to kids—says that The Gum-Chewing Rattler is the perfect tall tale for kids because it combines so many familiar experiences—chewing lots of bubblegum, getting in trouble in school, driving your mom crazy—with the wild, impossible claim that a certain rattlesnake chewed gum and blew a bubble with it. Couple that with kids’ natural fascination with poisonous snakes, and The Gum-Chewing Rattler turns out to be one of Joe’s most requested stories. Joe’s been telling this wild story for years, since before 1980, when he took those long legs of his out on the road. But now, that old gum-chewer is here for the first time in a picture book with full-color illustrations by Antonio Castro L. Here’s how Joe’s story goes: When Joe was a boy, he chewed lots of bubblegum, his mom got so mad because the gum in his shirt pocket made a terrible mess in the wash! But this wad of bubblegum just happened to save Joe from a rattlesnake’s fangs! Really!! Don’t worry—his mother didn’t believe the story either.

Rattlesnake Rules

Rattlesnake Rules
Author: Conrad J. Storad
Publisher: Story Monsters Press
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2012-03-26
Genre: Rattlesnakes
ISBN: 9781589852112

Rattlesnakes are much maligned primarily because they are much misunderstood, In Rattlesnake Rules, award-winning children's author and science editor Conrad J. Storad removes the veil of mystery from these fascinating creatures and imparts to young readers valuable information that will help them better understand rattlesnakes and to keep both the children and the snakes safe. Now available in paperback for the first time!

The Serpent's Tale

The Serpent's Tale
Author: Gregory McNamee
Publisher: University of Georgia Press
Total Pages: 164
Release: 2000
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 9780820322254

“We travel the world,” writes Gregory McNamee, “and wherever we go there are snake stories to entertain us.” Here are some fifty diverse and unusual accounts of serpents from cultures across time and around the globe: snakes that talk, jump, and dance; snakes that transform into other creatures; snakes that just . . . watch. Many selections are drawn from the rich oral traditions of peoples in every clime that supports reptiles, from the Akimel O’odham of North America to the Mensa Bet-Abrahe of Africa to the Mungkjan of Australia. Included as well are such writings as prayers from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, fairy tales collected by the Brothers Grimm, a poem by Emily Dickinson, and a journal entry by Charles Darwin. What we read about snakes in The Serpent’s Tale is just as fascinating for what it says about us, for there always will be something primordial about our connection to them. That bond is evident in these stories: in how we associate snakes with nature’s elemental forces, how we attribute special qualities to their eyes and skin, and how they preside over all phases of our existence, from creation to death to resurrection.

Life in the Slow Lane

Life in the Slow Lane
Author: Conrad J. Storad
Publisher: Bobolink Media
Total Pages: 40
Release: 2005
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN:

A young tortoise talks to her grandfather about taking life slowly, compared to jackrabbits and humans.

You Don't Know Squat!

You Don't Know Squat!
Author: Michael Dexter Hankins
Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
Total Pages: 344
Release: 2023-02-24
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN:

Four decades ago, a friend of the author remarked that a book should be written in honor of someone they both knew. The indiscreet nickname for this person is Squat. Up to speed on most all facets of life, Squat knew just enough to be dangerous, mainly to himself. When a problem arose, he found a solution, oftentimes causing more harm than good. The two pals quickly brainstormed and came up with a book title. All they needed was substance of some educational and entertainment value to place between covers. Flash ahead forty years. Sadly, the friend is no longer here. Having over six hundred articles, stories, and editorials published by various newspapers and periodicals at his disposal, author Michael Dexter Hankins had more than enough material to finally create such a testament. Going through a short yet lengthy editing process, You Don't Know Squat! came to life as an eclectic mix of 102 humorous and quirky tales. It's also an entertaining plethora of undeniable facts, hyperbole extraordinaire, outlandish thoughts, unsubstantiated information, life adventures, misadventures, irony, oxymoron, gossip, sarcasm, inflammatory opinions, uncalled-for advice, and secret innuendos. Literary scholars and bibliophobes alike will find the contents humorously enlightening.