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The Brave Cowboy
Reanimating a classic, Joan Walsh Anglund adds her beautiful line drawings to the timeless story of a young cowboy--a perfect gift for children.
"Once there was a cowboy. He was strong and brave. He was not afraid of coyotes. He was not afraid of mountain lions. He was not afraid of ornery rustlers. . . ." --from The Brave Cowboy
This adorable gift book for children features Joan's black and red line drawings on cream-colored stock. The red illustrations represent the brave cowboy's imaginary world of bandits, rattlesnakes, stagecoaches, and fair maidens. Joan's inspiration for the main character came from her son when he was about three years old.
"Once there was a cowboy. He was strong and brave. He was not afraid of coyotes. He was not afraid of mountain lions. He was not afraid of ornery rustlers. . . ." --from The Brave Cowboy
This adorable gift book for children features Joan's black and red line drawings on cream-colored stock. The red illustrations represent the brave cowboy's imaginary world of bandits, rattlesnakes, stagecoaches, and fair maidens. Joan's inspiration for the main character came from her son when he was about three years old.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1959
2 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Joan Walsh Anglund
143 books56 followersJoan Walsh Anglund was an American poet and children's book author and illustrator, with more than 120 books that have sold over 50 million copies around the world in 17 languages.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
November 2, 2009
I love Joan Walsh Anglund! Revisiting her books make me feel all cozy and loved and like I'm five years old again. This, however, is from even earlier in her career and is more in keeping with my parents' childhoods since it debuted in 1959. It is marvelously nostalgic in that it focuses on a little boy who loves pretending that he is a cowboy (I don't think most little boys are that into cowboys today, are they? Let's not forget "Toy Story" haha!) Yet the child's imagination is shown so flawlessly, as he creates this imagined world around the real world.
Some present-day readers may be troubled by the stereotypical idea of "cowboys and Indians" in this story, but it is not the basis of the tale and our Brave Cowboy deals with ruffian white settlers, too, so the case could be made that he is simply peacekeeping. My dad loved playing a cowboy when he was a kid, and he is one of the most tolerant and open-minded people I've ever met; so I hope the story will be viewed as I believe Anglund intended back in the day--honoring a child's imagination.
Some present-day readers may be troubled by the stereotypical idea of "cowboys and Indians" in this story, but it is not the basis of the tale and our Brave Cowboy deals with ruffian white settlers, too, so the case could be made that he is simply peacekeeping. My dad loved playing a cowboy when he was a kid, and he is one of the most tolerant and open-minded people I've ever met; so I hope the story will be viewed as I believe Anglund intended back in the day--honoring a child's imagination.
February 4, 2011
My son, John, absolutely loves this book. Short, and so sweet. It has simple text, and the cute illustrations provide so much for him to talk about!
July 1, 2011
This book is difficult for me to assign stars to because I thought it was a five star book, but I doubt the kids will even remember it.
I really think this is a story moms and dads will like, and it will certainly give them warm feelings as they think about their little ones engaged in make believe. The illustrations are simple, but they are just absolutely poignant. The story is also very simple, but it is so full of emotion and feeling, particularly to the grown-up who loves their little ones and their play. Five stars from the grown-up point of view.
Now. The kid point of view. My niece barely even registered that I was reading this book. Complete bomb for her. My nephew was engaged, but it didn't hold his attention for long. Neither of them "got" the dual story being told through the images (nor did I really expect them to). My nephew got the literal story that was on the page, but he certainly didn't get that the little boy was engaged in make belive. I think that from the kids' perspective it was just a story, and maybe not even one that was particularly great. Or, maybe The Brave Cowboy just couldn't compete with the Pokemon toys that came in the kids' Happy Meals! I must remember that kids think Happy Meal toys are the finest things ever created, and I must not expect a book from 1959 to stand toe to toe with such marvels of human creation.
I really think this is a story moms and dads will like, and it will certainly give them warm feelings as they think about their little ones engaged in make believe. The illustrations are simple, but they are just absolutely poignant. The story is also very simple, but it is so full of emotion and feeling, particularly to the grown-up who loves their little ones and their play. Five stars from the grown-up point of view.
Now. The kid point of view. My niece barely even registered that I was reading this book. Complete bomb for her. My nephew was engaged, but it didn't hold his attention for long. Neither of them "got" the dual story being told through the images (nor did I really expect them to). My nephew got the literal story that was on the page, but he certainly didn't get that the little boy was engaged in make belive. I think that from the kids' perspective it was just a story, and maybe not even one that was particularly great. Or, maybe The Brave Cowboy just couldn't compete with the Pokemon toys that came in the kids' Happy Meals! I must remember that kids think Happy Meal toys are the finest things ever created, and I must not expect a book from 1959 to stand toe to toe with such marvels of human creation.
December 29, 2017
Oh my goodness, I've not so fast after reading a library book gone straight to the computer and ordered one. The absolute most adorable illustrations of a boy's imaginations. Good book for a baby shower for a boy. A book to hang onto for the grandkids.
February 18, 2019
One of my all time favorite childhoods books. I read it to my two year old son. I Included it here because it seems no one really knows about it.
December 8, 2020
A brilliant, timeless story masquerading as a simple, very brief book. This one is pure nostalgia for me--I received it long ago from my mother as a Christmas present, and I read it I can't even say how many times. Now I return to it once more, and find that in the time that's transpired it has lost absolutely nothing of its enchantment. For a moment I have re-lived the days when my little brother and I acted out our western fantasies, and moments like this are the reason I will always be a faithful follower of The BOOK--ANY book, as long as it's good or great.
August 11, 2018
This book is essentiall that "Cowboy Needs A Horse" Disney song. Little boy imagines he's a cowboy throughout all his daily routines. The illustrations are black and white with what he imagines sketched over in red.
January 31, 2022
I recognize this book is racist today, but I love it. While it mostly seems to be tying into the romanticization of the wild west and how children used to play cowboys vs. Indians, this story is much more about the power of imagination. Reality is depicted in black ink, while all the cowboy's imagined foes are illustrated in red. It's a unique approach that highlights how a child can imaginatively transform reality. While there is a specific tone of racism against indigenous peoples, the challenges of a collapsing tent (blanket fort), a long ride across the prairie (on a high stool), and an imagined rattlesnake continue to speak to the ingenuity and creativity of childhood.
April 21, 2023
"The Brave Cowboy" is a cute book about the power of imagination. Thoughout the book the brave cowboy talks about his adventure of fighting off bad guys and going on cattle drives. The illistrations in the book are very interesting. Some of the images are done in black and others in red. The images in red are meant to be what the cowboy is imagining. Overall, I think this is such a cute story that you could use in many ways.
November 23, 2019
Should be tossed. Out-dated and racist with a white-centered view of America. The would-be cowboy "would hunt wild Indians that might be in the territory." Hunt other humans who are on their own land?! I wouldn't have thought twice about this message when I was a child in the 1950s; now it horrifies me. Read Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko.
June 22, 2019
The book made me think of Uncle Robert.
July 30, 2021
I love the use of two color illustrations one to represent real and one imaginary.
June 22, 2023
Extremely adorable.
April 12, 2025
Great illustrations and a fun read for anyone who ever pretended to be a cowboy. My eldest loved this one and 50 years later so does my great-grandson.
January 3, 2026
LOVED this! Wish we had come across this one years ago!
August 21, 2012
I don't recall this book from my childhood, but my mom says she used to read it to me and my older brother when we were kids, way back in the 1960s. So I read the book tonight for nostalgia's sake. And I think it's a wonderful book about imagination. I don't know that I fantasized too much about being a cowboy when I was young. I was kind of afraid of horses and didn't fancy life out on the frontier. But maybe this book planted a seed that grew later into my love of the west. Nevertheless, this little story does capture in a broader sense the kinds of things I imagined doing--being heroic, being strong, saving people, leading an adventurous life. I like this book.
February 23, 2012
Reading Level: Ages 3+
Originally published in 1959, this small book is sure to warm your heart. Stark black and white illustrations of a young cowboy contrast wonderfully with red drawings of imaginary wild animals, Indians, and outlaws that our hero must face. Great for any imaginative reader.
For more book reviews from the HPPL Youth Department, click here.
Originally published in 1959, this small book is sure to warm your heart. Stark black and white illustrations of a young cowboy contrast wonderfully with red drawings of imaginary wild animals, Indians, and outlaws that our hero must face. Great for any imaginative reader.
For more book reviews from the HPPL Youth Department, click here.
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October 5, 2016This book is set in modern times. It is about a young boy who dreams of becoming a cowboy. Every morning he puts on his cowboy gear and gets ready for the day. The cool part about this book, is that every imagination he has is illustrated in red while the black is the real world.
This book would be cool to have students analyze different ways to illustrate ideas. It would also be cool for little boys to read because they could very much relate to this imaginary world.
This book would be cool to have students analyze different ways to illustrate ideas. It would also be cool for little boys to read because they could very much relate to this imaginary world.
February 15, 2009
What a darling book! My friend Vicky shared this one with me. This little cowboy uses his imagination and amazing things happen!!!
Like other favorite children's books of mine, the imagination is drawn around reality.
Like other favorite children's books of mine, the imagination is drawn around reality.
August 17, 2011
Reading Level: Ages 3+
Originally published in 1959, this small book is sure to warm your heart. Stark black and white illustrations of a young cowboy contrast wonderfully with red drawings of imaginary wild animals, Indians, and outlaws that our hero must face. Great for any imaginative reader.
Originally published in 1959, this small book is sure to warm your heart. Stark black and white illustrations of a young cowboy contrast wonderfully with red drawings of imaginary wild animals, Indians, and outlaws that our hero must face. Great for any imaginative reader.
April 4, 2012
This is acute book where a boy talks about being a cowboy and all the things he does as a cowboy. By looking at the illistrations you can tell that he is imagining that he is a cowboy. This would be a great book to use to intriduce real and not real to students.
June 3, 2010
The illustrations and his little boy imaginings are so absolutely cute.
December 5, 2012
a day in the life of a little boy. precious illustrations.
January 23, 2013
No "indians" or bang-bang shoot 'um up... just animals, nature, and some lassoing of "bad" guys... delightful illustrations
December 18, 2014
Cute illustrations. Good for a bedtime book.
January 13, 2015
Henry loved it!
June 13, 2015
There is a shady story about how I wound up buying this book but mostly it just proves how great the book is.
June 21, 2022
Short, simple, and outdated.
5-26-2020
5-26-2020
April 23, 2017
This is a classic for all little boys
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews