Matthew the Cowboy

A birthday gift of a new cowboy suit is a dream come true for an imaginative little boy named Matthew who promptly spends the day riding the range and capturing bad guys

PreSchool-Grade 1-- Cowboy books are desperately needed for preschoolers as there has been little new since Steven Kellogg's Pecos Bill (Morrow, 1986). Matthew the Cowboy is sure to win their hearts. When a freckle-faced boy gets a cowboy suit as a birthday gift, he sets off on an imaginary adventure. " 'So long, I'm going out West to be a cowboy,' " he tells his parents. After stocking up on his gear at the general store, he gentles a wild horse; meets Rocky, boss of the Rocky Nine Ranch; and sets off after cattle rustlers. Giving a fresh and lively twist to all kinds of cowboy cliches, Matthew's story fits together handily, and the direct story line incorporates a gentle humor. The ink and watercolor illustrations present a sandy desert tableau with whimsical rabbits, road runners, armadillos, and desert rats. The cowhands include a black man, a pig-tailed white woman, and a bespectacled older fellow. There's lots of expression in form, both for animals and people. A great pairing of story and picture that's bound to rustle up some enthusiasm. --Jacqueline Elsner, Athens Regional Library, GA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.