When his dad gave him his first glove, baseball became the center of Thad Mumau's universe. In this collection of heartwarming and often humorous essays, Mumau describes the magic of America's favorite pastime, including experiences such as playing ball in a cow pasture, getting that first uniform, attending a major league game for the first time, and making a baseball ''comeback'' at 30-plus years of age. The author also shares exclusive interviews with baseball greats such as Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, and Tom Seaver.

When the Grass Turns Green: Cherished Baseball Memories of a North Carolina Sportswriter

Sports & Outdoors

Thad Mumau

Baseball

Parkway Publisher

Michael Hardy brings the history of Watauga County to modern times by updating the two previously published books by John Preston Arthur in 1915 and by Daniel J. Whitener in 1949.

A Short History of Watauga County

History

Michael Hardy

Americas

Jack Tales and Mountain Yarns As Told by Orville Hicks

For the past two decades, Orville Hicks has enthralled audiences with his storytelling performances. In 2007, Orville was honored with a North Carolina Heritage Award. Jack Tales and Mountain Yarns includes more than 20 transcribed stories that expertly capture the voice of the master storyteller. Each of these stories is paired with lively pencil sketches by Sherry Jensen.
 Some of the stories tell of Orville's childhood and focus on mountain traditions such as gathering galax and selling pumpkins. Others are traditional Jack tales, which feature the antics of the mischievous boy named Jack. The most recognizable traditional Jack tale is the story of Jack and the beanstalk.

Children's Books

Julia Taylor Ebel

Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths

The Warners are a typical family, with the usual rifts and arguments. Each year, they leave home on Christmas Day to spend the holidays in a time-share condominium in Colorado. The early-teenaged children, Tim and Julie, are opposed to the idea, preferring to stay home with gifts and friends, but their workaholic father insists that they spend the rare family time together. However, he is inevitably called back to his demanding business each year and is not even there.
On one Christmas, Tim surprises his sister, taking her on an impromptu horseback ride to a mountaintop. There he shows her an amazing and inspiring display of lights on a distant peak, a scene of mysterious origin that can be viewed from only that one spot precisely at dusk on Christmas Day.
The next year, their father is too busy to make the trip to the condo for Christmas. Even so, the kids can't wait to take their mother on the yuletide horseback ride up the mountain so they can show her the beautiful light show. By the next holiday, the Warners' marriage is over and so are the rides to the mountain for the Warner family.
Tim blames his mother for the breakup of the family. When he eventually goes away to college, he ends all communication with her. Eventually, Tim does return home, and at the same time, his father has an epiphany. The next Christmas, the parents renew their vows, remarrying on the mountain, just as the lights burn their brightest for the reunited family.
A few years later, a tragic turn brings the two siblings even closer, and a special Christmas gift makes certain their bond will never be dissolved. And a strange but wondrous twist shows Julie the true meaning of those lights they saw on their rides to the Christmas mountain.

A Christmas Ride: The Miracle of Lights

Religion & Spirituality

Edie Hand

Jeffery Addison

Literature & Fiction

A story for Mountaineers of all ages, Appalachian State A to Z captures the history and tradition of the beloved Appalachian State University campus. The book encourages young readers and those who read to them to go through each letter of the alphabet examining different campus treasures, such as the view from Howard's Knob, a tailgate at "The Rock," and a visit with mascot Yosef. It is a fun read for children and a keepsake for anyone who loves the university.

Appalachian State A to Z

Anne Aldridge Webb

Over 150 sites in North Carolina can trace their names to Native American sources--whether legends surrounding the locations or simply the Native Americans' names for the places. In this book, Kevin Reynolds attempts to sort through the oral tradition, folklore, and differing versions of how each place received its name to present the most common and/or plausible source. The book, designed as a travel guide as well as a reference source, has photographs of many of the locations to entice armchair readers to actually visit the sites.

Native North Carolina: The What, Why and Where of Native American Places

Kevin Reynolds

A children's book for all ages, Goodnight Boone captures the history, culture, and traditions of the beautiful town of Boone, North Carolina.

Goodnight, Boone

Blair Proffit

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