Cowboy Country

by Ann Herbert Scott, Ted Lewin (Illustrator)

As he rides through cowboy country, an old buckaroo tells how he became a cowboy, what the work was like in the old days, what it's like now, and what a beginner needs to know.

Genres: Picture Books, Westerns

48 pages, Hardcover

First published August 15, 1993

About the author

Ann Herbert Scott describes herself as "a transplanted Easterner who has come to love the wide skies and far mountain ranges of the West." She is the author of SAM, ON MOTHER'S LAP, and several other picture books. She lives Benicia, California.

Ann Herbert Scott was born in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, and grew up writing. Her first children's book, co-authored with a friend and never published, was written at the age of 13. Many honors and children's books followed with a hiatus to marry and raise a family. Today, Scott is one of America's foremost authors of children's literature. She deftly uses her B.A. in English (University of Pennsylvania) and M.A. in Social Ethics (Yale University) to bring both credibility and wonder to her work. Many of her books deal with western, ethnic, and rural themes.

Scott moved to Reno in 1961, when she married William Taussig Scott (1916-1999), a physics professor at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her work as an "enumerator" in the agricultural census of 1964 eventually led to her writing a history of the U. S. census, with the cooperation of the Bureau of the Census. Her novel Sam was an American Library Association Notable Book for 1967. Another of her books, On Mother's Lap, was read by Captain Kangaroo on his television program as part of the national Reading is Fundamental literacy initiative. In 1996, the paperback edition of Cowboy Country was awarded the Parents' Choice Silver Honor. Scott is active in the Northern Nevada arts community and is the co-founder of the Annual Art of the Children's Book Festival. She and her husband were co-founders of Sierra Interfaith Action for Peace, a non-profit public benefit corporation in Washoe County, Nevada.

Reviews

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

An aging buckaroo takes a young boy who is interested in becoming and living the life of a cowboy, on a trail ride to show him, and explain the rugged life of life on the range. Detailed information spoken colloquially throughout the pages, and the illustrations are based on photographs taken in northern Nevada.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story begins in an old pickup truck, with an old timer cowboy and his dog Matilda. He tells you about how cowboys live, and work off the ranch. He takes you to get the horses and you go for an overnight ride. The whole story is of this old cowboy talking to you, when I read this book I thought that the way it was written was really neat. You learn all sorts of neat things about working cows from horseback, and about how times have changed things out west. The illustrations are beautiful as well and really help the reader get into the story.


How I would use this book with students:
I would definitely use this book as a read-aloud. I would also place it in the classroom library for the students to read for enjoyment. Using this book to help tell ‘cowboy history’ would be fun as well. This would definitely be a good book for young boys, and girls who like horses.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a book for a story time, but perfect for any young kids (especially boys) who are interested in cowboys and the Old West. A good account of how things have changed over the years in cowboying. The book got me to slightly understanding better why my uncle(s) love their western ways so much--the ones I just didn't understand while growing up. Who wouldn't want time to think and reflect, and commune with all around you? But I could do that in different ways that don't involve taking care of cattle.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was obsessed with horses when I was a kid.
I love how the grandpa was trying to his his grandson interested in his way of life. Yeah, the kid probably won't grow up to be a rancher, but having a long life appreciation of wildlife and livestock and horses never heard anyone. :) Besides, when the kid makes it big in corporate, he can have vacations at a dude ranch and won't be an instructor! lol

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book holds a special place in my heart. I know the "cowboy" in the story and have spent time on the ranch they highlight. The illustrator did a fantastic job, the details are so exact and just match the characteristics of the cowboy and area.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids will love this book if they have any interest in ranching or cowboy life. It's also likely to appeal to kids who like nonfiction.

The art is very well-done, and the story encompasses many aspects of cowboy life.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed it, my son seemed a little bored. There are quite a lot of words per page and that tends to make him antsy. He may enjoy it more when he gets older.