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 Review by
Louella Moreland
Who has not grown up reading or seeing cowboy stories! Even though they
have had a decrease in popularity over the years, the basic cowboy story
remains an icon in American literature: good sheriff, bad guy terrorizing
the town, attractive female and scared townspeople.
In Susan Stevens Crummel's "Ten-Gallon Bart," all the classic cowboy
elements are covered with an inventive twist to enliven the old tale! Words
dance across the pages, some exploding with excitement, and some being
incorporated into the graphics on the page. Illustrations appear almost
three-dimensional as illustrator Dorothy Donohue uses paper and wood in
collages we feel we can reach into the page and touch. Color and texture
abound in creating the Old West feeling.
"Ten-Gallon Bart" is a charming, old-fashioned story sure to delight both
children and adults. Each two-page spread has incredible details that remain
true to old Western culture. The text begs to be read aloud with lots of
expression and drawl.
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Ms. Crummel's sheriff, Ten-Gallon Bart, is a hound dog complete
with cowboy hat and boots. He is brave, courageous, bold and about
to retire until he opens the morning newspaper, The Daily Muzzle.
The headline shouts that Billy the Kid, the roughest, toughest,
gruffest goat in the country, is on the loose and headed for Dog
City on the noon train. Of course Miss Kitty (yes, she is a feline)
and his deputies, Wild Bill Hiccup and Wyatt Burp (both pigs), are
very upset. Over at Miss Kitty's place, Miss Dixie (a chicken) and
Buffalo Gal (you guessed it!) fortify the sheriff with a big bowl of
water and some dog biscuits.
When Billy the Kid steps off the train, however, things do not go
quite as planned. The sheriff's backup disappears. Billy slams into
Bart, sending him sailing into the air, and begins chomping his hat
and tin star badge! Who will come to save the day? Will Billy the
Kid take over the town? Will Bart live to retire?
Come on in to the Lincoln Public Library at 725 Pekin St. to
check out this great Western for children and find out for yourself
what happens to Bart. While you're there, you might want to take
home another favorite of mine, "Bubba, the Cowboy Prince: a
Fractured Texas Tale," by Helen Ketteman. Both books are sure to
satisfy your little cowboys or cowgirls!
[Text from file received from
Louella Moreland, youth services,
Lincoln Public Library District]
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