The concept behind this picture book is terrific, and western aficionados may well overlook some shortcomings in the execution. The eponymous cowboy, Erwin Smith (1886-1947), worked in his youth herding cattle across the vast, open ranges of the Southwest, and he often carried with him a camera to memorialize a rapidly changing way of life. Here, a selection of his photos documents the rugged daily life on the range and reveals the region's mostly barren terrain. Whether focusing on an obviously posed group of cowpunchers huddled around a campfire or on a bronc buster attempting to break a half-wild horse, Smith's sepia photos will redefine the concept of "cowboy" for kids who immediately think of gun-toting tough guys walking dusty streets in search of a shoot-out. But the text has problems. The folksy, first-person narration ("by" Smith) rambles as Worcester (Western Horse Tales) describes the particulars of managing cows and handling horses, and makes some vague assertions ("At one time there were at least four thousand black cowboys in Texas, and I'm sure there were"). Irregularly shaped, watercolor wash "frames" detract from Smith's photographs and muddy the simulated-parchment pages. Ages 9-12.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 3^-5 This beautifully made and designed collection of the turn-of-the-century photos by cowboy-photographer Erwin E. Smith covers everything you always wanted to know about cowboys and more. Worcester, who tells the story in Smith's voice, ties the pictures to details of the Wild West world--how cowboys came to be, the ins and outs of roping cattle, and more--and profiles colorful characters, from wranglers to cooks to broncobusters. The frequently overlooked African Americans and Hispanics who contributed greatly to cowboy culture are considered as well. Also included are atmospheric tidbits about the roguish and glorious cowboy life. However, it's Smith's authentic photos that steal the show: the day-to-day routine at camps, the excitement of rodeos, and the ambience of the sweeping dusty plains are a pleasure to behold. A delight for fans of the Wild West. Glossary. Kathleen Squires

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