|
On this page:
| |||||
|
Books for children about cowgirls, cowboys, ranches and The Wild West:
 
Little Red Cowboy Hat
Reading level: Ages 4-8 Susan Lowell, Randy Cecil (Illustrator); 2000; paperback 32pp 0805064834
This whimsical take on Little Red Riding Hood brings new life to an old favorite. This Southwestern version of Little Red Riding Hood features a tomboyish main character, a wolf as sleazy as any streetcorner lothario and a distinct self-defense theme. Lowell's (The Three Little Javelinas) outwardly tough Little Red wears a sheriff's badge and shoots rattlesnakes with her slingshot. reviewed: 
"From Mrs. Cecil's Second Grade class: This book is WONDERFUL! I like it a lot because it made us laugh! It had good pictures and they made us feel happy. It is a good book. "This book reminded me of when I went to a farm," Yasmin said. We want other kids to read this book because they will like it too."
Cindy Ellen: A Wild Western Cinderella
Reading level: Ages 4-8 by Susan Lowell (Author), Jane Manning (Illustrator) ; 2001; paperback 40pp 0064438643
If there's one thing the traditional fairy-tale Cinderella is lacking, it's some rip-snortin', gravel-in-the-gizzard gumption. And until her Wild West counterpart, Cindy Ellen, meets her own fairy godmother, she too is sorely deficient in the grit and guts department, even if she is a durn good cowgirl. Cindy Ellen's meaner-than-a-rattlesnake stepmother bullies her into doing all the dirty work on the ranch and forbids her to attend the biggest event of the season, a rodeo and square dance. Enter her spur-jangling, gun-firing, no-nonsense fairy godmother: "Magic is plumb worthless without gumption.... Stop that tomfool blubbering, and let's get busy." And just like that, Cindy is outfitted in the "finest riding clothes west of the East," including a pair of diamond-studded spurs. You can guess the rest. It involves six cactus mice transformed into six dappled horses, a lost diamond spur, and a rodeo champion by the name of Joe Prince. Simply put, Cindy Ellen is a riot. reviewed:
"Another winner from Susann Lowell! Susan Lowell is a genius. You can't help but read her books with a twang in your voice, and my child loves books read with funny voices. Cindy Ellen is great because it's a "cowboy book" that boys and girls alike can really love. Susan Lowell has produced another wonderful re-telling of a classic tale. Jane Manning's pictures are great, too, they really bring life and sparkle to Ms. Lowell's words.
"
The Three Little Javelinas
Reading level: Ages 4-8 Susan Lowell, Jim Harris (Illustrator); 1992; paperback 32pp 0873585429
In this retelling of The Three Little Pigs set in the American Southwest, the cherished porkers are transformed into javelinas, the hairy, swinelike creatures also known as peccaries. Their pursuer, no longer the wolf of traditional lore, becomes Coyote, that ubiquitous Southwestern trickster. In her first book for children, Lowell spices the story with elements of Native American, Mexican and Old West culture. Javelina No. 1 builds his house of tumbleweed, while his brother relies on saguaro ribs. reviewed: "Wonderful! Entertaining & Educational Tbut it doesn't hit you (or your child) over the head with the education. The artist and scriptor clearly put the emphasis on story first, education second - as a result of which the child will read it over & over, picking up subtle bits of this & that. Highly recommended! 
I Want to Be a Cowboy
Reading level: Ages 4-8 by Dan Liebman; 1999; paperback 24pp 1552094324
The new "I Want to Be" series is sure to appeal to children and parents alike. With full-color photographs throughout and straightforward, engaging and informative text, they are a great value. Every child has concepts and dreams about what they want to do when they grow up and adults all remember the black and white books that depicted the life of a veterinarian, policeman or other vocations. This new series is thoroughly modern and colorful. The firefighters, pilots and cow"boys" depicted are women and men. The aircraft and firefighting equipment are the most modern, from water-bombing helicopters to fighter planes to passenger-carrying jets. The days and nights of a cowboy are portrayed as the romantic but hard-working life that it is. reviewed:
"Because of this book I WILL be a cowboy I never thought being a cowboy could be so easy. This book shows you step by step how to be a world famous cowboy. I have completly converted. All I listen to now is cowboy music and my belt buckles are twice the size they used to be. I am the hit of the party at all the cowboy bars that I now have VIP cards at. Thank you I want to be a cowboy. You have changed my life for the better!
Why Cowboys Sleep With Their Boots On
Reading level: Ages 4-8 Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton, James Rice (Illustrator); 1995; hardcover 32pp 1565540948
Young cowpokes everywhere will take a shine to this rib-ticklin' tale of Slim Jim Watkins and his vanishing wardrobe. Every night when the tired cowboy disrobes and stretches out on his bedroll for some shut-eye, thieving varmints emerge from the darkness. First, a pair of slithering snakes boost his britches, then his bandana's lifted by a coyote. When an armadillo makes off with his hat, Slim finally cottons to the shenanigans and wisely opts to sleep fully clothed. Knowlton's humorous story finds a ready pardner in Rice's droll pen-and-wash illustrations. reviewed:
"Wonderful story for preschool and elementary aged children!... My children (ages 3&4) loved this book! We rented it so much from the local library that it was well worth the money to buy it."
The Tortoise and the Jackrabbit
Reading level: Ages 4-8 Susan Lowell, Jim Harris (Illustrator); 1994; hardcover 32pp 0873585860
A wild and funny Southwestern Goldilocks. As in their The Three Little Javelinas, Lowell and Harris revivify a timeworn tale with a Southwestern setting and a dash of wit. The tortoise here is a bespectacled, parasol-toting marm. Her cocky rival-a singing ("Long, low, LEAP, ho!") jackrabbit-springs into the air to flaunt his speed. "Tortoise looked patiently up at him with her old, old eyes. 'Let's race,' she said." A jumble of directional signs tucked under his wing, Roadrunner marks the course through a desert filled with the appropriate flora and fauna. reviewed:
"Susan Lowell has adapted the classtic story of the Tortoise and the Hare perfectly for desert readers. As a kindergarten teacher in Arizona, I love reading this story to my students because it is relevant for them. They love listening to it!"
Lasso Lou and Cowboy McCoy
Reading level: Ages 4-8 by Barbara Larmon Failing; 2003; paperback 40pp 0803725787
They're the rootinest-tootinest cowboys this side of the Pecos! With his spiffy new cowboy hat, McCoy is ready to ride the range as soon as he can figure out how to get on his horse. Luckily his pal Lasso Lou is there to help McCoy saddle up. And then, they're both in for a wild ride! This warmhearted and wonderfully silly western tale introduces a pair of crazy cowpokes who, for all their bumbling, know that every adventure is better with a friend along to share the ride. 
The Cowboy and the Black-Eyed Pea
Reading level: Ages 4-8 Tony Johnson, Warren Ludwig (Illustrator); 1996; paperback 069811356X
This vivacious picture book gives an engaging Western slant to the familiar tale of "The Princess and the Pea." When Farethee Well, "a young woman of bodacious beauty," inherits her father's considerable estate, a parade of men seek the comely lass's hand in marriage. But the savvy Texan has a foolproof method for screening her suitors--she places a black-eyed pea beneath each man's saddle blanket, knowing that a true cowboy, sensing such an irritant, will "bruise like the petals of a desert rose." Colorful lingo associated with the Lone Star state peppers Johnston's clever retelling. Ludwig's pencil and watercolor illustrations are serviceable but undistinguished. His human faces exhibit a range of appropriate emotions, but the renderings of horse and cattle seem overly cute, and commercial, and the palette is occasionally muddy. The quirky change of setting and the strong female protagonist, however, prove entertaining. reviewed: "This book is an excellent storybook for young children... This story is an excellent read-to-me book for children ages 4-9. The story is a parody of the fairy tale, Princess and the Pea. It is full of the language of the West and invites both boys and girls into the story for a lively tale. 
Cowboys (All Aboard Books)
Reading level: Ages 4-8 by Lucille Recht Penner, Ben Carter (Illustrator); 1995; paperback 044840947X
First Sentence: If you were out west about a hundred years ago, you might have heard a cowboy yelling-ti yi yippy yay! —as he rode across the plains. 
Cowboys and Cowgirls: YippeeYay!
Reading level: Ages 4-8 Gail Gibbons; 2003; paperback 32pp 0316168599
Let's round 'em up and move 'em along! In words and pictures, Gail Gibbons captures all the excitement and adventure of the Wild West. Her colorful watercolors deftly re-create cowboys' clothing, equipment, and lifestyle, and the lively text includes descriptions of famous cowboys and cowgirls, as well as historical facts. 
Dusty Locks and the Three Bears
Reading level: Ages 4-8 Susan Lowell , Randy Cecil (Illustrator); 2001; hardcover 32pp 0805058621
A wild and funny Southwestern Goldilocks. Way out West live three bears who like to keep their cabin neat and tidy. But one day while they're out for a walk, a dirty little girl named Dusty Locks barges in and helps herself to their supper of beans. The big bear's beans are so full of chile peppers that she burns her mouth. The middle bear's beans don't even have any salt. But the bear cub's beans are just right, so Dusty Locks gobbles them all up. When the bears come home to find their nice, neat house looking like it's been hit by a whirlwind, they get riled -- and Dusty Locks runs home so fast the dust doesn't settle for a week. The talented team that created Little Red Cowboy Hat works its hilarious magic again in this lively western retelling of Goldilocks. reviewed: "I Got a Standing Ovation... One of the five year olds in my Pre K class gave me a standing ovation after I read this and the rest of the class listened intently. Fun to read and fun to hear! A must have." 
B is for Buckaroo: A Cowboy Alphabet
Reading level: Ages 4-8 by Louise Doak Whitney ; 2003; hardcover 40pp 1585361399
'L is for lariat or lasso, a loop of rope coiled just so. Swing it wide or swing it low. Hook those horns and yell whoa!' Hold on to your hat and strap on your spurs! Cowpokes and buckaroos of all ages will enjoy this A-Z romp through the facts, feats, and folks of the cowboy way of life.Even greenhorns are invited to ride this fun-filled range! reviewed: "Not a board book This is a beautiful book. Children will be fascinated to have it read to them & to read it when they are old enough. Unfortunately, it is represented as being a "Board Book" indicating younger children who might be a bit rougher with books can look at it. I bought it for my grandson's first birthday, but will have to save it until he gets a little older. " 
The Toughest Cowboy: or How the Wild West Was Tamed (Bccb Blue Ribbon Picture Book Awards
Reading level: Ages 4-8 by John Frank ; 2004; hardcover 48pp 0689834616
Grizz Brickbottom is tough all right. He flosses with barbed wire and drinks a quart of Tabasco sauce each day. But even the toughest cowboy gets a hankerin' fer some unconditional lovin,' so Grizz heads into town to get hisself . . . a dog! Course, this bein' a wacky kids' book, the dog he gets is . . . a miniature poodle. Well, sir, things is never the same on the once-wild frontier. Grizz's pardners--Chuck Wagon, Lariat, and Bald Mountain--may hoot 'n' holler, but before you can say "spit," they've been tamed, too. Pullen's outrageously rude pictures are a mix of cartoon and caricature, but like Frank's text, they owe a great debt to Mel Brooks' movie Blazing Saddles. Mercifully, Pullen's cowpokes don't eat beans around a campfire, but they sure do pick their noses a lot! Michael Cart Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved reviewed: "GRIZZ is GREAT! What a clever, fun, and unexpected gem of a story. You could not ask for a better blend of humor and storyline to keep a child riveted and laughing all at the same time. I am so happy we got this one and hope John Frank will write some more! The illustrations are marvelous and augment the story beautifully." 
The Dirty Cowboy
Reading level: Ages 4-8 by Amy Timberlake ; 2003; hardcover 32pp 0374317917
A cowboy decides to take his yearly bath, so he heads to a nearby river, where he orders his scruffy dog to guard his clothes. When the cowboy returns from the river, he's so clean that the dog doesn't recognize him. The two get into an extended fracas, leaving the cowboy as filthy as ever and the clothes in tatters. Naked and dirty, the cowboy finally returns home, the dog trotting beside him. For some children, the appeal of this story is in the clever composition of the pictures that manages to conceal the cowboy's private bits. Rex's rich paintings add sparkle to the story's dramatic telling with the attention to detail and humor that may remind some grownups of Norman Rockwell's early work. A simple, slapstick tale that is sure to elicit some giggles. Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved reviewed: "Little Boys Love It I bought this for my nephew's 4th birthday and he asks to have it read over and over. All of the adults who have read it laugh out loud. It's absolutely wonderful. " 
Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa
Reading level: Ages 4-8 by Erica Silverman ; 2006; 44pp 0152056602
Set on a cattle ranch, this warm, beginning chapter book tells four spirited stories about young cowgirl Kate and her beloved talking horse, Cocoa. Young children will see themselves in both characters. In several episodes, for example, Cocoa puts off cow herding and even bedtime by employing a preschooler's procrastination techniques, such as asking for food and for water. Children will also recognize the friends' good-natured banter and lively dialogue as they negotiate their days together, in the barn and on the range. Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved reviewed: "Book for horse loving children The book is written in 4 chapters that could be read individually at 4 different sessions. Each tells its own story. The illustrations are clear and concise using bright colors. Children that love horses would like this book. I used it as a read-aloud story at the library but a reader of about 1st grade level would have no trouble reading it. " 
Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa: School Days
Reading level: Ages 4-8 by Erica Silverman ; 2007; 48pp 0152053786
...continues the winning friendship between girl and horse with more stories aimed at emerging readers. When Kate starts school, Cocoa suffers separation pangs: he follows her school bus; he feels frustrated when she turns her attention to homework; and he is jealous of her new school friend. Once again, Lewin's charming paintings reinforce the action and create expressive characters in both boot-clad cowgirl Kate and her sensitive cocoa-colored horse. The breezy, dialogue-heavy text is nicely geared to and paced for newly independent readers. Suggest this also for read-alouds with preschool-age siblings, who will recognize Cocoa's fear of being left behind. Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved 
Cowboy Up!
Reading level: Ages 4-8 by Larry Dane Brimner; 1999; 31pp 0516264753
reviewed: "Yeeha!, This book is fun to read and fun to look at for both the reader and the "readee". The illustrations are wonderfully interesting. The text is fit for young readers, but not boring. A great book to have before or after a visit to the rodeo." 
Cowboy Small (Lois Lenski Books)
Reading level: Ages 4-8 by Lois Lenski (Illustrator); 2001; 56pp 0375810757
Cowboy Small takes good care of his horse, Cactus. In return, Cactus helps Cowboy Small get work done on the range. Together they round up cattle for branding and live the good life. At night, Cowboy Small eats at the chuck wagon, sings with his friends, and sleeps under the stars. reviewed: "Great for kids who like cowboys My 3 yr. old son LOVES the Lois Lenski books, this being one of his (and my) favorites. We started reading it when he was just 2, and we have also read all the other cowboy books we can find. In my opinion, this is the one to get for a toddler. My son loves to ride around the house on his stick horse playing Cowboy Small. Timeless." 
The Gingerbread Cowboy
Reading level: Ages 4-8 by Janet Squires; 2006; 32pp 0060778636
A rancher's wife, tired of baking her husband biscuits, makes a gingerbread cowboy complete with a vest and big hat. When the gingerbread boy leaps out of the oven and wriggles through the corral fence, he is chased by javelinas (boars), by long-horned cattle ("No more grass for us! We want gingerbread"), and by cowboys riding the range--until he meets a tricky coyote napping in the sun. Berry's double-page spreads, painted in lots of brown and green, make the chase a series of uproarious encounters across the wide desert. One of the best scenes is the close-up of the coyote drawn with lots of furry cross-hatching, stretched out on the sand, one sly eye open. Preschoolers will join in the chant ("Giddyup, giddyup as fast as you can. You can't catch me . . .") as they enjoy this universal trickster tale with a cowboy slant. Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved reviewed: "Another great gingerbread book!, As a Kindergarten teacher, I am always looking for a new twist on an old story. One of the best ways to help children to start crafting their own stories is to have them use a character they already know and change the setting or other characters in the story to make it their own. This book is a great example of doing this. My class enjoyed the book. When I lent the book to another teacher, her children loved it so they were running around the yard calling Giddy up! as they chased each other. She told me that they didn't have that reaction to the original story!" 
Giddy Up, Cowgirl
Reading level: Ages 4-8 by Jarrett J. Krosoczka ; 2006; 40pp 067006050X
Armed with a trusty sidekick (a plush armadillo), a 10-pint hat, and a mission to be helpful, little Cowgirl discovers that a day of errands with Mom can be full of opportunities to play hero. Sometimes, though, her earnest efforts leave Mom more stressed than ever--as when the fearless youngster asks a favor of a scary-looking biker dude, or drops items she has offered to carry. Cowgirl's confidence eventually flags, but Mom embraces and reassures her downcast helper: "Your momma loves you because you always try!" The story's kids-will-be-kids humor, especially the concluding joke, seems aimed at parents more than children, who may yearn to see illustrations of childhood competence rather than clumsiness. Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved reviewed: " Fun for all. Giddy Up, Cowgirl was fun to read for myself as well as with my daughter. WE loved the images as well as the story. Considering the `story time' with her a success I took the book to my class the next day. As I read to my class of 20 five year-olds I could see they clearly related to the story as well. They were engrossed in the moments the little girl experienced. They wanted to see what would happen after the grocery-shopping list blew away in the wind or when the eggs were spilled. (As a mother I especially appreciated the dialogue of love and patience that occurred after the eggs spilled.)..." 
Cactus Hotel (An Owlet Book)
Reading level: Ages 4-8 by Brenda Z. Guiberson ; 1993; 32pp 0805029605
The intriguing life cycle of the saguaro cactus and the complex web of life that characterizes the North American Sonoran desert is effectively explored in this involving picture book. Guiberson's text captures the reader with its steady pace and often delightful echoes of cumulative nursery tales. She weaves an amazingly large range of facts into this simple story of a fragile ecosystem, and helps children comprehend just how much plants and animals depend upon one another for their survival. reviewed: "Superb and Engaging Book Even though it deals with intricate details of the life of a cactus, it has become my almost 3 year old's favorite book. The visual details are very engaging, and our little one loves to point out each of the animals, and "tap tap tap" along with the woodpecker. This book is delightful, and you will learn as much as your child will, as you read it. " 
The Armadillo from Amarillo
Reading level: Ages 4-8 by Lynne Cherry; 1999; 40pp 0152019553
Spectacular watercolor and oil-pastel renditions of Texas scenes combine with the rhymed-verse explorations of a curious armadillo to form an excellent map-skills book for beginners. Sasparillo Armadillo decides to explore his native state, and travels from San Antonio to Amarillo. He's still not sure where in the world he is, so he catches a ride on the back of a golden eagle and eventually boards the space shuttle for an even larger perspective. Cherry's love for the environment, shown in The Great Kapok Tree (1990) and A River Ran Wild (1992, both Harcourt), is evident in this book as well. Fields of bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes sprawl across borderless, two-page spreads, giving credence to the grandeur of the countryside. Indigenous plants, animals (some endangered), and unique geographical formations are introduced via inset postcards that Sasparillo sends to his cousin Brillo in Philadelphia. Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. reviewed: "Great book!!, My daughter loves armadillos, so when I saw this book at the library, I had to bring it home. It is great. It took her interest in armadillos and combined it with geography. The author did a great job of intertwining the fact that there are 50 states and linking that with the continents and our place on earth and the planets in the solar system. For us, this is definately worth purchasing!!"  
Bubba, The Cowboy Prince
Reading level: Ages 6-10 by Helen Ketteman, James Warhola; 1997; hardcover 32pp 0590255061
A Cinderella parody features the off-the-wall, whang-dang Texas hyperbole of Ketteman (The Year of No More Corn, 1993, etc.) and the insouciance of Warhola, who proves himself only too capable of creating a fairy godcow; that she's so appealingly whimsical makes it easy to accept the classic tale's inversions. reviewed:
"Our Very Favorite Book - So Much Fun To Read Our whole family LOVES Bubba! This is a fantastic, extremely funny twist on the old "Cinderella" tale. The art work is amazing - we delight in the illustrations and the book is just plain fun to read! My daughter adores the fact that Bubba [the "boy" Cinderella in this tale] wants to go to the ball with Miz Lurlene [its a cool change!]. We read this in a Texas drawl [you almost can't help it!] and just have loads of laughs with every re-reading. 
Why Cowboys Need a Brand
Reading level: Ages 9-12 Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton ; 1996; hardcover 32pp
Cowboy Slim Jim Watkins has everything he needs to start his own ranch--except a unique brand. not reviewed: Read more reviews, check prices, or order this children's book. Your order will be processed and guaranteed by Amazon.com |
Put a little OLD WEST
in your Holiday Gifts 2007 Calendars  Cowboys Cowgirls Horses Scenics Kids Western Calendars
| ||||
Funny stories about cowboys and cowgirls, children's books about western states, cowboy picture books.