The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

Hoefler, Kate

Real Cowboys

32 pp. | Houghton | October, 2016 | Trade ISBN 978-0-544-14892-5 $16.99

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Jonathan Bean. In this hymn to contemporary cowboys, a sentence beginning with "real cowboys..." introduces each new task or scene ("Real cowboys are patient..."). Young cowpokes will appreciate the seriousness given to their passion, an apparent respect shared by Bean's dramatic illustrations. With details that verge on the abstract, each page turn comes as a visual surprise. The book ends with an existential turn.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2017