The Bumpy Ride

Hey Jack! #10

by Sally Rippin

Jack is going horseback riding – it’s going to be awesome! But then he has to ride the slowest pony. How can he pretend he’s a cowboy during The Bumpy Ride?

This early reader series featuring Billie B. Brown’s best friend, Jack, is full of down-to-earth, real-life, fun and funny stories that boys can enjoy and relate to. With word art or illustrations on every second page, and no huge blocks of text or intimidating words, they're perfect for newly independent readers.

Genres: Childrens

48 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2014

About the author

Sally Rippin was born in Darwin, but grew up mainly in South-East Asia. As a young adult she lived in China for three years, studying traditional Chinese painting. Sally has over seventy books published, many of them award-winning, including two novels for young adults. Her most recent work includes the highly acclaimed children’s novel Angel Creek and the popular Billie B Brown books, which became the highest selling series for 6-8 year olds in Australia within the first year of their release. Sally is Australia’s highest selling female author and her Billie B Brown books have sold more than 4.5 million copies in 14 languages.
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Sally is a popular presenter in schools and at literary festivals both in Australia and overseas and has a regular program on 3RRR interviewing children’s authors and industry professionals. She is a passionate ambassador for the 100 Story Building creative writing centre for marginalized youth and has mentored many emerging writers and illustrators. Recently, she and her partner co-founded Story Peddlers, a hand-made performance tent that packs away into a custom-built bike, with the aim of bringing back the art of the roving storyteller.

Reviews

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack is so excited to go horseback riding. He imagines that he will have a fine looking horse and be a real cowboy. But when the class gets to the stables, Jack is given a sweet-natured pony named Betty. He is so sad about getting a slow and steady pony that the ride loses most of its fun for him. But then he finds out that Betty is a really great mount to help out his friend Billie when she needs a rescue. Maybe a cowboy doesn't need the biggest or fastest horse after all.

Do you have any children or students who enjoy hearing stories about Junie B. Jones or Ready, Freddy read aloud to them, but they are not quite ready to read a chapter book of that length on their own? Then Billie B. Brown and Hey Jack! are perfect for them! The same sort of real life situations and humor, but in a shorter format with more illustrations. These books are great for beginning chapter book readers. Don't worry that the boys won't like them, because Billie's friend Jack is in Billie's stories and has his own series, too.

I won a copy of the book in a giveaway by the publisher and can't wait to introduce it to my students.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great series for beginner readers. The print is still large and short. It's a great way to get kids excited about reading a chapter book. This is also an AR book for anyone who might want to know. I would recommend this book to others.

[Jill Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack is buzzing with excitement. Today he was going to ride a horse and be like a real cowboy. Billie has ridden before but Jack hasn't. The horses they give them are different because of that. Jack ends up helping Billie when she gets thrown off her horse.

This is a great early reader for young children. The font is large and varied and the story charming.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Jon rates this a 2.5 stars. He read it to me out loud.

Personally I didn't like how mean Jack was to his pony, Betty, at first, and the kids weren't supervised or taught basic safety at all?! On a school field trip?! Seems odd...

[Sooraya Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

sweet.

[Christine Meunier · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son was gifted a copy of The Bumpy Ride (Hey Jack! #10) by Sally Rippin as an end of year school gift. He completed his first year of schooling this year – an achievement in current COVID times! I was eager to read the book with him, as it has a horse focus.

Read more at https://equus-blog.com/the-bumpy-ride...

[Andy Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

10 - Sally Rippin, “Hey Jack! The Bumpy Ride” (Richmond, Victoria, Aust: Hardie Grant Egmont, 2013).
“Today, Billie and Jack have dressed up like cowboys.” (p3)
Learning to make the best of each situation.
“Jack grins. Even though he is hot and dusty and dirty, he has never felt so proud.” (p42)

[Viviane Elbee]

This is a chapter book for young readers - maybe 1st graders or kindergarteners who can read Easy Readers. Jack has never ridden a horse before, so he is assigned the slowest pony. At first he’s a little upset to be on the slowest one, but gradually realizes it’s the best ride for beginners.

Good for fans of cowboys, cowgirls, summer camp stories and horses.