Southwest Art Defined is essentially an image-rich encyclopedia (remember those?) of anything that pertains to Native American and Hispanic art. From the first entry (Acoma Pueblo Pottery) to the last (Zuni Pueblo Pottery), Booker provides detailed information about textiles, jewelry, carvings, and architecture made in Arizona, New Mexico, southern Utah, and southern Colorado.

Large color photographs bring the text to life. You’ll see the fine black-on-white lines of centuries-old Anasazi storage jars, the frayed tassels of an early-1900s Mescalero Apache ceremonial hide skirt and poncho, and many other visuals that accentuate the artistry, history, and traditions of the region.—Whitney Dreier

Experience this beautiful book for yourself and you will understand exactly what New Mexico Magazine means when they claim that these “large color photographs bring the text to life.” With over 370 full-color and black-and-white photos accompanying 500 art descriptions, this truly is a book to watch out for!

If you’re in New Mexico or traveling there this summer, make sure to check out one of Margaret Moore Booker’s upcoming book signings.

June 22^nd  2:00 p.m.

Moby Dickens bookshop

124A Bent Street

Taos, NM 87571

www.mobydickens.com

June 29^th 2:00 p.m.

Gerald Peters Gallery

1011 Paseo de Peralta

Santa Fe, NM 87501

www.gpgallery.com

July 27^th and 28^th 10:00 a.m – 12:00 p.m.

Spanish Market

Santa Fe Plaza

Santa Fe, NM

www.spanishcolonialblog.org/market-2011-2012

August 3^rd (time to be determined)

Las Golondrinas

334 Los Pinos Road

Santa Fe, NM 87507

www.golondrinas.org

August 4^th (time to be determined)

Las Golondrinas

334 Los Pinos Road

Santa Fe, NM 87507

www.golondrinas.org

August 9^th – August 13^th (selling/signing all day)

Whitehawk antique shows

Santa Fe Community Convention Center

201 W. Marcy Street

Santa Fe, NM 87501

www.whitehawkshows.com

August 15^th 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Wheelright Museum

704 Camino Lejo

Santa Fe, NM 87505

wwww.wheelwright.org

When Dogs Dream by Jean Ekman Adams is now available! Perfect for dog lovers anywhere and filled with charming and hilarious illustrations, this book is a fun and imaginative take on what dogs really dream about.

Jean Ekman Adams, an award-winning and beloved children’s book author and illustrator, brings us Snarfy, Darryl, Shine, and Shorty, four lovable dogs with fantastic imaginations. They dream of learning to read, of driving cars, and of throwing parties.

Each with a personality distinctly their own, these lovable dogs may not have much, but they have each other and their dreams.

When Dogs Dream also includes information about dog rescue centers.

This is a book that helps us laugh, smile, and reminds us of how important dreams are. Take home Snarfy, Darryl, Shine, and Shorty today and remember to dream big!

This beautiful guide is filled with color photos of these amazing birds in flight, feeding, and nesting to assist with identification. Hassler describes in detail the field marks, behavior, and habitat requirements of hummingbirds that nest in or migrate through the region. Hummingbirds of the American West covers all 21 North American species, and includes information that will help you pick specific native plants to make sure you attract hummingbirds to your own “hummingbird garden!”

The Midwest Book Review did a great review for Southwest Art Defined: An Illustrated Guide by Margaret Moore Booker in their February 2013 edition of Library Bookwatch. Here is a copy of the review:

Featuring full-color photography of artworks from museums, galleries, and private collections on almost every page, Southwest Art Defined: An Illustrated Guide is a one-volume reference of alphabetized entries explaining important terms about the traditional arts of the American Southwest, including native American and Hispano art. For example, the entry for “Navajo Woodcarving” begins with “a folk art tradition established in the early 1960s by pioneering Navajo artist and healer Charlie Willeto (active ca. 1961-1964), who was encouraged and supported in his endeavor by Indian art traders in Arizona, and made hundreds of animal and human figures as artistic expressions intended for sale. Over time, other Navajos began carving and painting wooden figures as well.” Each entry spans multiple paragraphs and is quite detailed, yet accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Useful as a reference for art students, historians, or instructors, yet also beautiful to simply page through, Southwest Art Defined: An Illustrated Guide is enthusiastically recommended especially for public and college library art shelves.

Diné Tah: My Reservation Days, 1923-1939 by Alwin J. Girdner was also reviewed! In their Winter 2013 issue, the New Mexico Historical Review wrote a wonderful synopsis of Diné Tah and said some very nice things about what they called a “delightful memoir.”

The reviewer writes that in Diné Tah, “Girdner paints a colorful portrait of life among the Diné in the beautiful wilds of the of the Southwest.” The review continues: “It is precisely this unorthodox, folksly style and organization that makes this account so engaging, honest, and charming.” The reviewer concludes: “On top of it all, Girdner is just a good storyteller who will leave you smiling and laughing.”

Guess Who’s in the Desert is now available!  This engaging children’s book by award-winning author Charline Profiri, is an interactive guessing game, full of bright, unique illustrations by Susan Swan.  Guess Who’s in the Desert has fun, rhyming text and clues on every page that invite curious children to discover what surprises the desert holds.  Every page holds a new mystery that keeps kids guessing.  Come on and join the adventure; you never know what you might find!  “During the desert’s sizzling heat, guess which creatures you might meet!”

Sedona Map and Guide is also available!  This map and guide is a comprehensive resource for all your needs, whether you’re just visiting the local shops or hiking one of the beautiful trails in the Sedona area.  Along with information on trails, vortexes, camping, sightseeing, and more, Sedona insiders Bronze Black and Kathleen Bryant provide highlights of the history, geology, archaeology, plants, and animals of the area.  This all-in-one guide also showcases 50 color photographs of Sedona sights.  It’s a must-have map for any Sedona trip!

The book review states: “What is most compelling about this large memoir is that it stays true and never strays from its title, ‘Diné Tah,’ which literally translates as ‘among the people,’ or ‘among the Navajo.’” The journal compares Diné Tah with the work of Frank Waters, the “Grandfather of Southwestern Literature,” in tone and style.

The article continues: “The importance of this book, for either scholars or general readers interested in traditional Navajo life on the reservation prior to WWII, cannot be overestimated.”

Check out the entire review in the Winter 2012 edition of The Journal of Arizona History!

Southwest Art Defined, by Santa Fe author Margaret Moore Booker, is now available! This beautiful hardcover book brings the traditional arts of the Southwest are brought together in one volume for the first time. Almost 500 comprehensive descriptions of Native American and Hispano art are accompanied by 370 full-color photographs of art from museums, galleries, and private collections. Lose yourself in the stunning pottery, textiles, jewelry, carvings, and architecture of the Southwest.

A Very Hairy Christmas, by Susan Lowell with illustrations by Jim Harris, has been named a top children’s pick in the Southwest Books of the Year by Pima County Public Library!

Southwest Books of the Year listing