Rattlesnake Stew - Hardcover

Reed, Lynn Rowe

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0374361908 ISBN 13: 9780374361907

Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux, 1990

Synopsis

A mysterious wind sweeps Billy out of his bed and into the desert, where he cavorts with cowboys among the cacti, dances with prancing dogs, and tries to lasso the moon

About this title

Reviews

Kindergarten-Grade 2-- "A strong wind swirled and soared/ and whirled and roared/ and plucked Billy from his bed/ and bounced him on his head/ into a camp of cantankerous cowboys." Billy's Wild West adventure includes star lassoeing, grizzly-bear encounters, and bronco riding. Then he is blown "into the blue,/ across the blue/ to his home/where his mom called, 'Billy, come in from the blue. I've made rattlesnake stew for you.' " The illustrations are distinctive, with vivid oil pastels in outsized shapes of mostly primary hues. Texture is provided by squiggles of color over color, and the perspective alters wildly, as it might in a dream. People are composite chunky ovals topped by fat round heads. All told, this is a lively piece of fantasy rendered surreal by its illustrative style. Compared to the more staid Cowboy Dreams (Potter, 1990) by Dayal Kaur Khalsa, it serves a spicier stew for story time or for independent reading by aspiring cowgirls and boys. --Carolyn Noah, Worcester Public Library, MA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Billy is napping quietly when a wind picks him up and drops him "into a camp of cantankerous cowboys." These guys sing, pick their guitars, dance, snatch "stars from the sky" and rope the moon. Grizzlies and prancing dogs cavort nearby. The reader doesn't get a good look at this frenetic activity, since it is all too claustrophobically close--children need a little more eye contact with the characters. The fun ends when Mom appears, though she does tempt her son with rattlesnake stew, apparently a cowboy favorite. The western theme of Reed's debut book has some appeal, but her highly stylized story and art--rounded, nonrealistic characters sporting pointy hands and feet, and textured clothing--may be off-putting. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux
• Publication date: 1990
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0374361908
• ISBN 13: 9780374361907
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32