Cowboy Camp

by Tammi Sauer, Mike Reed (Illustrator)

A little boy who doesn't fit in at camp finds out just how valuable his non-cowboy skills can be. Every child will relate to the message, the humor, and the deliciously playful illustrations.

Giddyup, kids, and gallop right over to read this rootin' tootin' tale of an unlikely would-be hero. Avery's at camp, trying hard to saddle up and master his lasso, but he's just not like the other cowboys. He's allergic to the horses and can't stand the grub. But when a bully threatens all the campers, Avery proves his mettle in his own unique way. Young readers will have lots of fun with the story's lively language and wildly humorous pictures.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Westerns, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2005

About the author

Tammi Sauer is the author of Cowboy Camp (Sterling, 2005), Chicken Dance (Sterling, 2009), Mostly Monsterly (Paula Wiseman/S&S, 2010), the forthcoming Princess-in-Training (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), and something that's currently Top Secret.

Tammi and her family live in Oklahoma with one dog, two geckos, and a tank full of random fish.

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little boy who doesn't fit in at camp finds out just how valuable his non-cowboy skills can be. Every child will relate to the message, the humor, and the deliciously playful illustrations.

Giddyup, kids, and gallop right over to read this rootin' tootin' tale of an unlikely would-be hero. Avery's at camp, trying hard to saddle up and master his lasso, but he's just not like the other cowboys. He's allergic to the horses and can't stand the grub. But when a bully threatens all the campers, Avery proves his mettle in his own unique way. Young readers will have lots of fun with the story's lively language and wildly humorous pictures.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avery wanted to be a cowboy so he joined a cowboy camp. Right away he discovered he didn't look the part, he didn't like the food, he couldn't lasso anything, and he was allergic to horses! How could he be a real cowboy that way? When a mean cowboy arrived to break up cowboy camp, Avery was put to the test. Funny story and illustrations.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story.

Not all cowboys look or act the same.

[Meredith]

Shows that sometimes there are different ways to succeed

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Watch out for the stereotypes.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oooookay... decent enough story about being whatever you want to be, but what's with Cowboy Dan watching and hiding while Avery is confronted by the evil outlaw?
Meh.

[Heather Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

megan winter reading 2017, children's book, picture book, cowboys, camps, prek, kindergarten, first grade, second grade,

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this story. It reminds me of Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester. Avery is a boy that doesn't make a great cowboy, though he'd like to. He just doesn't do the things that most cowboys do. He doesn't eat beans, ride horses, or lasso. Basically, he doesn't fit in with the rest of the campers at cowboy camp. All of that doesn't matter though when Black Bart, an evil cowboy, shows up after dark looking for Cowboy Dan and his cowboy camp. Avery outsmarts Black Bart and convinces hm that he's in the wrong place simply by demonstrating what a lousy cowboy he makes. Somehow, that convinces Black Bart that cowboy camp is actually space camp and that he's in the wrong place. It's a story of Avery's redemption. I liked it.

[Sydney Freel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a boy, Avery, who feels like an outcast at cowboy camp. He doesn’t like cowboy food, the lasso gives him rope burn, and his horse allergy has left him riding a cow. One night Avery was confronted by Black Bart, a desperado who threatened to put an end to cowboy camp forever. But Avery became a hero when he used his lacking skills to make this desperado to believe that their camp couldn’t possibly be a cowboy camp. Exaggerated coincidence makes the story less believable. This book could be used in the classroom to promote concepts of individuality and the diversity of strengths and weaknesses among different people.

Sauer, T., & Reed, M. (2005). Cowboy Camp. New York: Sterling Pub.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

He don’t dress like a cowboy, he doesn’t like their grub, he can’t lasso nor can be sit on a horse without sneezing so how is Avery going to make it at Cowboy Camp. There are a multiple of other things that set Avery apart from the other boys at Cowboy Camp but when the stars come out at night and Black Bart finds Avery at the camp, Avery ends up being the toughest cowboy for miles. It’s a cute book emphasizes that it’s ok to be different. The pictures are bright and the different fonts used to tell the story make the story come alive and another element to the story.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the villain in this tale is dumber than dirt leading to a somewhat unbelievable denoument, getting there is fun anyway. Avery is attending cowboy camp, but he soon learns that he's not exactly cut out to be your typical cowboy. Luckily, this is exactly what saves the day when Black Bart comes sniffing around the camp that night. Mike Reed's illustrations are lovely, yet comical, and nicely complement the story.
Used for July's Western Themed Tons of Fun program for 2nd and 3rd graders.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avery goes to cowboy camp and realizes that he's really not cut out to be a cowboy. His belt buckle is too big and his hat too small. He doesn't like cowboy food and roping hurts his hands. When Black Bart shows up at camp to ruin things, it's those skills that don't make him a cowboy that truly save the day!

[Kayla Schum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cowboy camp is about a boy that cant lasso, his clothes dont, fit and he is allergic to horses. He becomes more like a cowboy when a bully threatens the camp. This book is good for students to read because they would like the language and the pictures. It will also show them that bullying isnt nice.

[Megan Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes we find hobbies that we are really interested in but that we may not have all the right skills. Sometimes we feel like we don't fit in like Avery and cowboy camp, but sometimes we surprise ourselves and realize we do belong where we are right now.

[Carly · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book had beautiful illustrations. I did feel how Avery was described was not how he was illustrated. This could have been improved. He was drawn like the other boys. The story was fair. For me, the illustrations carried the book.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book send out a good lesson that it's ok to be different. Also to dream big, you can be anything you want to be.

[Zonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A not-cowboy-material camper turns out to be the best cowboy.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review: https://hiplibrariansbookblog.com/200...

[Stephanie Smoot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this book in my text set about cowboys. The book was very cute and has an unexpected twist at the end.

[Shelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a fun read aloud for young children. Voice change ups and southern accents a must.

[Sara Mostek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audience: boys
Ages: 3-10
Sends a great message to children, Funny, Great Illustrations

[Ashley Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

its okay, didnt impress us much.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny, charming illustrations. Mediocre story about a whiny wanabee cowboy who saves cowboy camp.

themes: camps, cowboys, self-confidence

[Kathy Ellen Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book about being yourself but still fulfilling your dreams!

Haiku Review:
What's a real cowboy?
Eating beans? Riding horses?
maybe something more...

[Magila · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Celina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for a kid who doesn't quite fit in!

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kids love stories in which a character's bumbling difficulties somehow save the day.

[Tracy Schillemore · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about a boy who doesn't seem to fit as a cowboy but finds out that he does fit in in his own way.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avery is at cowboy camp but his allergies and other sensitivities make him a bit great cowboy until the bad guy comes...
I LOVE how I saw myself in Avery. Ahhhhhh choooooooo!

[Peggy Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew that not being good at 'cowboy things' at Cowboy camp could make a difference!? Good story, with equally good illustrations. :)