A Night on the Range

Young cowboy-wannabe Cole daydreams about roping strays and hunting down rustlers. He's beyond excited for his first camping experience—that is, until it gets dark. Is that sound a rattlesnake? Dreamy, expansive illustrations distinguish between Cole's wild imagination and his reality—a suburban backyard—in this well-done ode to self-fulfillment.

Even the toughest little cowboy gets scared of the dark! (Picture book. 4-8)

Inspired by a pair of cowboy boots and steady diet of black-and-white Westerns checked out from the library, Cole is ready to take his pretend play to the next level by sleeping under the stars (his faithful and highly expressive dog, Bulls Eye, is more dubious). Does Cole have what it takes to stand tall against the sounds and shadows of the backyard at night, which seem to speak of crickets and rattlesnakes... or owls and secret calls between bandits? Frischs (Dark Fiddler) text has a little too much fun at his heros expense (Cole never knew it could get so chilly on the range. He wondered if cowboys always got goosebumps), but Shebans (Catching the Moon), signature pebbly surfaces diffuse light to give even the goofiest or most prosaic images an ethereal quality that testifies to the transportive power of imagination. And his mise-en-scène is worthy of Sergio Leone, whether its a closeup of Cole brushing his teeth with a beef jerky stick or a stunning worms eye view of Cole and Bulls Eye losing themselves in the wonders of twilight. Ages 5up. (Sept.)

Copyright 2010 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

K-Gr 3--Young Cole, attired in cowboy boots and hat, is aimin' to be a cowpoke. With a vivid imagination, he envisions his dog, Bull's-Eye, as his faithful mount; neighbors as mean rustlers; and their dogs as dangerous wolves. Cowboy Cole likes to relax after a hard day in front of the TV, watching Westerns borrowed from the library. Now, however, he's ready for the big time--roughing it by sleeping outdoors in the backyard between the garden and the clothesline. All goes well until it gets dark and chilly. Suddenly, Cole is not sure if he hears an owl or a bandit, sees a rattlesnake or a cricket. He hightails it right back inside, deciding that for now the cowboy life might be better spent in a comfy chair with a large bowl of popcorn. This is an entertaining-enough tongue-in-cheek story that is suitable for sharing. The illustrations have a retro look and are somewhat muted and understated. Created with watercolor and pencil, they are appropriately scary during Cole's experiences outside and satisfying when he's safely back in his own home.--Roxanne Burg, Orange County Public Library, CA