My grandfather was a real cowboy. I feel sad that I never got to share Real Cowboys with him. He would have appreciated this book and nodded his head at it, “Yep. That’s right.” This wonderful title for young readers describes what real cowboys actually do, turning the cultural image of the cowboy on its head.
The book starts “real cowboys are quiet in the morning,” explaining why they need to be. We see that cowboys are not only quiet but also gentle, good listeners, patient, peace-loving, and capable of crying. Sure, they are strong and tough, but they also take turns, care about the environment, and are artistic. They are also girls and boys and every color imaginable.
Jonathan Bean’s art surprised me. I was expecting something like his art in This Is My Home, This is My School, but here his illustrations are much sketchier and more impressionistic, even edging toward Cubism.
Real Cowboys, by Kate Hoefler, illustrated by Jonathan Bean. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: 2016
I participate every Wednesday in the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge.
I’m sorry you couldn’t read this with your grandfather, too, Annette. It sounds wonderful. One of my grandfathers kept sheep and I have memories of riding out to check on them. He wasn’t exactly a cowboy, but a farmer who kept different animals. He would have liked this book, too. Thanks!
My grandfather’s great love was sheep, but in the 1950s the economics of the rangeland where he lived forced him to move to all cattle. I think our grandfathers would have gotten along very well, Linda!
Wow! There’s not text like this, and I wish I could read it with your grandfather as well! I cannot wait to read this one!