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Reviewed by Amy M. O’Quinn for the National Writing for Children Center
Title: Kick the Cowboy
Author: Joe Gribnau
Illustrator: Adrian Tans
Ages: 4-8
Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company (September 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1589806050
ISBN-13: 978-1589806054
Kick the Cowboy, a new Fall 2009 release by Pelican Publishing Company, is a delightful picture book written by Joe Gribnau and illustrated by Adrian Tans that is sure to lasso a lot of laughs from readers of all ages. In fact, the humorous twang and distinct Western flavor of the story will make this a first-rate read-aloud for the whole family!
Kick is a real cowboy’s cowboy. In fact, he’s the greatest cowboy ever! He can rope a dozen longhorns in one loop and drive a thousand cattle from Texas to Montana. At least that’s what the other cowboys say—that is, until Kick gets too big for his britches and too far above his raisin’! Then he turns into the meanest cowboy in the whole state of Texas, sporting a terrible stare, a cruel growl, and a scary snarl to boot. Yessirree, Kick is so
mean that no one dares to cross him or tell him that the horse he claims is the fastest and finest in the state is actually a stick horse.
As Kick’s meanness grows, his greatness diminishes in the eyes of the other cowboys and they all find excuses not to be around. But no matter, Kick just gets meaner and meaner, until the day he finally meets his match!
When a sweet little girl named Belle taps Kick on his back and asks for help finding her lost puppy, Poo, Kick acts just as mean and ornery as ever as he laughs and scoffs at her request with a nasty reply. But Belle does what no man alive has dared to do—she kicks him in the knee. Not once, but twice! And in the process she brings him down to her eye level. They stare at each other until a single tear rolls down Belle’s cheek. A little of the meanness melts from Kick’s heart, and soon they are both crying.
Kick realizes that he doesn’t want to be mean anymore. With Belle’s encouragement and advice, he mends his fences by apologizing to all the other cowboys. “Never met a greater cowboy”, they all agree once more as Kick and Belle ride away on their stick horses.
Joe Gribnau has done a splendid job with the story of Kick the Cowboy. The tale is funny and entertaining, yet meaningful because as his character Belle says to Kick, “…most folks are like barb wire…they have their good points.” What a great reminder that everyone deserves a second chance!
Adrian Tans’ illustrations are spectacular! The colors really pop, and he uses unusual perspectives and artistic angles to create one-of-a-kind pictures that really capture the essence of the story. The details are amazing, and the expressions on the characters’ faces are priceless. Young readers will definitely enjoy perusing the illustrations as they progress through the book. Gribnau and Tan make a great team!
You can find out more about Kick the Cowboy and other Pelican Publishing titles at www.pelicanpub.com.
About the Author: Joe Gribnau is a teacher and author. A native of Montana, he and his family now make their home in Walla Walla, Washington where they enjoy spending time outdoors. Joe is also the author of another Pelican Publishing title, Rocky Mountain Night Before Christmas.
About the Illustrator: Adrian Tans is an accomplished illustrator whose art has been exhibited in a variety of galleries. He also illustrated Pelican’s Pirate Treasure Hunt! and Witches Night Before Halloween. He and his family live in Vermont. You can visit his website at www.adriantansart.com.
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Visit Amy at www.amyoquinn.com or at
www.homeschoolblogger.com/picketfencemom.