Bad News for Outlaws facts for kids
| Author | Vaunda Micheaux Nelson |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | R. Gregory Christie |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Publisher | Lerner Publishing Group |
|
Publication date
|
2009 |
| Awards | 2010 Coretta Scott King Author Award |
Bad News for Outlaws is an exciting children's book from 2009. It was written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. This book tells the amazing true story of Bass Reeves. He was a brave African American deputy marshal in the 1800s. Bass Reeves worked for the United States government. He helped keep the peace in the Arkansas and Oklahoma Territories.
Contents
About the Book
Bad News for Outlaws shares the life story of Bass Reeves. He was a deputy marshal for the U.S. government. Bass Reeves worked for 32 years in the Arkansas and Oklahoma Territories.
Bass Reeves's Story
The book tells different stories about Bass Reeves. It starts when he was young and enslaved. Then it shows his clever ways of catching outlaws. He was very good at his job. The book also covers the day he stopped working as a peace officer. This happened when the territory became a state. The story ends with his passing away.
How the Book Was Made
Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, the author, first learned about Bass Reeves from a documentary. Her husband, Drew, found a film about Black people in the American West. The documentary mentioned Bass Reeves briefly. This made Nelson want to learn more about him.
Researching Bass Reeves
Nelson did a lot of research on Bass Reeves. She talked with Art T. Burton, a historian. He has written books about Reeves. Nelson also checked the drawings for the book. She made sure they were historically correct. For example, one drawing showed Reeves pulling a steer from mud. He was fully dressed in the first draft. Nelson shared that he actually went into the mud without his clothes. The final drawing shows this detail.
Awards and Recognition
Bad News for Outlaws has won several important awards. It was recognized for its great storytelling and historical accuracy.
Major Awards
- The book was named an ALA Notable Children's Book in 2010.
- It won the 2010 Coretta Scott King Author Award. This award celebrates African American authors.
- It also received the New Mexico-Arizona Book Award in 2010.
- The book won the Once Upon a World Children's Book Award in 2010.
- In 2014, it appeared on the National Endowment for the Humanities Nonfiction Booklist for Young Readers.
Images for kids
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Bass Reeves was a legendary lawman.
