Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Bubba and Beau Meet the Relatives

Rate this book
When the relatives come to visit, Bubba and Beau have got to find something fun to do and so take Arlene and Bitsy to their favorite muddy spot out in the garden to have an old-fashioned, squishy, good time! Jr Lib Guild.

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

1 person is currently reading
22 people want to read

About the author

Kathi Appelt

55 books551 followers
Lives in College Station, TX with husband Ken and four adorable cats.

Two sons, both musicians.

Serves on the faculty at Vermont College of Fine Arts in the MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults Program.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
39 (30%)
4 stars
47 (37%)
3 stars
35 (27%)
2 stars
5 (3%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Profile Image for Rose Rosetree.
Author 15 books468 followers
June 30, 2023
When Arlene and Bitsy play in the mud, having an old-fashioned, squishy, good time -- now that's something I can relate to.

Imagine, me. A non-Texan. Somebody who grew up in New York City. (Where we have mud too.)

Otherwise, though, I didn't find much I could relate to in this book. For my second Bubba and Beau book in a row, mostly I found a lot of Texan references, maybe tribal references.

Do all good Texan men wear their cowboy hats and cowboy boots all their waking hours? Inside the house, not only outdoors? Or just the good Texan men in this book?

Look, it's a spirited tale. Of course I'll give it FIVE STARS.

Personally, though, this Goodreader felt excluded. My imagination can take me nearly everywhere and any time. Usually books aid me, abet me, in doing just that. Not here, though.

But maybe that Texans-only spirit is part of the charm?
Profile Image for Cheryl.
12.8k reviews482 followers
December 13, 2017
So funny. Love that the cousin baby and her puppy also prefer mud to froufrou.
Profile Image for Dede.
546 reviews12 followers
July 20, 2021
This book wasn’t the best to me. It was very country and southern in the writing. I would maybe still recommend this book.
Profile Image for Vivian.
2,397 reviews
August 22, 2012
I absolutely love reading aloud the Bubba books. I love Bubba. I love the folks. I love the chapters, yes chapters. There are five, count them--five, chapters in the thirty pages of this hilarious story about a visit from some extended family.

Here's how the story time performer engaged the crowd by asking questions...

She opened the book to the front end papers and asked, "What color is that?" (The children love identifying colors and for those that are still learning their colors this way of beginning a book gives them opportunity to practice.)
She turned to the title page and read the title, author, and illustrator. When I do this I sometimes read the title and then ask them if they'd like to read it with me as I run my finger along the title or tap at the title phrase. (this draws their attention to the idea that books are made by people for people--especially if you also read the dedication, too. It also draws their attention to the PRINT.)
There is an illustration on this title page, so she asked the children, "What are they doing?" (Not only does this dynamic story sharing embed
pre-reading skills into their subconscious, it keeps them focused, involved, and entertained!)
More questions which she sprinkled throughout the reading included...
"Are they cleaning? What do you guys help do? Can you stir? (mime stirring) What do you do when your grandpa comes? Do you give him a big hug? What do you think they're doing to do now? What did they do?"
Profile Image for Becky.
6,166 reviews303 followers
March 23, 2021
First sentence: "The relatives are coming!" cried Mama Pearl.

Premise/plot: In their third adventure, Bubba and Beau survive meeting the relatives! It all starts when Mama Pearl learns that family is coming to visit. That sets everything in motion. It is all good fun at first--especially the mud hole. But they won't survive this day without whining and tears.

She dressed Bubba in his brand-new sailor suit. Bubba hated that sailor suit. It was tight. It was stiff. It was scratchier than the toilet brush. Beau got a new bandana. Yuck!

But once the family arrives, then things really get going!

My thoughts: Bubba and Beau Meet the Relatives is a GREAT addition to this series. I definitely prefer it to the second book. It is just as good as the first book, Bubba and Beau Best Friends. I loved every moment of this one. The narration is FUN, CUTE, CHARMING. Perhaps a tiny bit precious. But anytime the text starts to get too sweet and precious, enter the MUD HOLE.

I would recommend all three books in this series.
79 reviews
July 13, 2015
Appelt, Kathi. Bubba and Beau Meet the Relatives. Illus. Arthur Howard. New York: New York, 2004. Print. Hospitality, mud, dogs, ages 2-5. In Bubba and Beau Meet the Relatives Bubba’s family is getting ready for family to come into town and meet baby Bubba. During the visit Bubba and his cousin wonder off to find a mud puddle with their pet dogs. When the family found the two babies they decided the best way to clean up is making a swimming pool in the back of a pick-up truck. I thought the plot of the story was good but the author’s word choice throughout the story was questionable. The book is designed for a very young age group but there are so many unfamiliar adjectives that in order to explain them the reader would have to frequently stop and take up a lot of time. Since this book is hard to follow I think it would help if the reader stopped to ask questions and help little kids start to learn critical thinking.
Profile Image for Terri.
557 reviews4 followers
February 10, 2014
The author, Kathi Appelt, is a very fortunate woman because her illustrator, Arthur Howard, is the best there is in kids' books. And as such, Howard makes this book doubly worth the purchase. Howard is the illustrator of the wonderful Mr. Putter series by Cynthia Rylant.

A cute little story about Bubba meeting all his relatives including little Beau who is about the same age as Bubba, a baby.

After the fussy, kissy introductions, Bubba and Beau thoroughly enjoy their day playing in the mud, playing in water in the truck, making a mess of their lunches, until it is time for Beau and all the relatives to head home.

The illustrations will really keep a child's attention, along with the cute story.
Profile Image for Terina.
84 reviews
April 10, 2010
This is a similar review to the one I wrote for another book in the Bubba and Beau series. Mostly because I'm not sure which book she likes better.

My kindergartner loves reading this book to me and to her little brother. She howls like Beau, narrates in a great Texas accent, and loves reading this story over and over. Any book that can spark a desire to read and to really tell a story is a 5-star book in my opinion.
Profile Image for Mandy J. Hoffman.
Author 1 book93 followers
April 18, 2009
A redneck story for young kids. It's great! Any country living or country loving parent should read this to their kids! My girls especially loved the part where they used the bed of Earl, the pick-up, for a swimming pool!
Profile Image for Jen.
1,060 reviews27 followers
June 16, 2012
The relatives are coming and Bubba's parents get everything all set for them. There is a very southern tone to the book and I'm not sure my boys really "got that" when we were reading it. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for this kind of a story today.
Profile Image for Tricia.
2,669 reviews
February 10, 2008
steve read it since his bubba voice is better than mine. said it was cute. aren't all the bubba books?
Profile Image for Amy.
175 reviews9 followers
December 6, 2009
Loved that they used Earl as a swimming pool! Seriously laughed out loud while reading this one with my best southern drawl!
Profile Image for Carol Royce Owen.
970 reviews15 followers
April 30, 2011
A great read aloud for younger readers. But be sure to get that southern twang in there!
Profile Image for Jenna.
149 reviews4 followers
April 27, 2012
This book would be great for a read a loud. Adding a southern dialect would enhance the feeling of the story. I would use this book in a discussion on how we all speak different in the United States.
Profile Image for Kelly Dolphin.
3 reviews2 followers
June 5, 2013
Love the southern charm in these stories! My 6 year old loves them and makes very real sounding noises for the dog and baby!
Profile Image for Kelly.
14 reviews2 followers
June 17, 2010
I thought this book was simple, and sweet. It reminded me of my son.
Profile Image for Christina.
43 reviews1 follower
July 7, 2015
This was a very cute book. Don't let the animation style put you off.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.