Cowboy Books

As promised from my cowgirl post here are some wonderful horse and cowboy books that feature a male as the main character.  Now before I go further into this post I should make it clear that weather a book has a boy or girl as the lead, or a book seems "girly" or "for boys" doesn't mean that the opposite gender can't read or enjoy it.  I have broken these post up by gender only so if you are looking specifically for a strong female lead book or male presents you can easily find that (OK and also so I can share more books with horses).

There is a whole slew of cowboy books.  Cowboys are exciting, and becoming something rare to see in the moderen world.  Don't worry they are still living out amung us, riding horses, rounding up cattle, and at rodeos. I will admit though when I was looking for really great cowboy books to share with you many of them fell short of my expectations for them.  I did however find a couple good ones, and I will share with you the ones I loved, liked, and even the one that I flat out didn't care for one bit.

I'm going to have to start with the book I didn't like, this way I can end on a positive note.

Cowboy & Octopus

Written by Jon Scieszka
Illustrated by Lane Smith

I admit, I should have known this would be a bad book just off the title, but I was curious.  Does it not make you wonder how there's a cowboy and octopus in the same book?  How does that even happen?  I had to know.
It's published by Viking which is an imprint of Penguin Group who usually puts out really good books.  It's also one of the newer books I found having come out in 2007.  This info paired with my curiousity convinced me to check it out, thank you libraries I borrowed this book and am forever thankful I didn't buy it.
Unlike most picture books that tell a story from begining to end, this is a collection of 7 short stories.  Each "story" is only 2-4 pages long.  I put story in quotation marks because I don't think it tells a story, the book doesn't have a storyline, and each short story doesn't make me feel like it's a story on it's own.  I'm sorry Jon Scieszka, I know I have read and really liked some of your other books, but I'm having a hard time finding positive things to say about this one.  I know it's suppose to be funny, but the jokes fell short.  The writing and conversation felt a bit choppy, almost like an early reader but lacking something still.
The illustrations, I'm horribly sorry to say (now this is only my opnion) they make the book even less apealing.  I know artist each have their own take on things and I am far from an art expert but I really couldn't get my mind around this style of art.  I know there is someone (like the illustrator) out there who is saying "Open your mind! Look at all the different layers in this image using painted newspaper pages, and layering cut out photographic real life images with cut outs of cardstock 70's style paper dolls, and they all come together with plastic toys to create a unique and colorful picture."  That is how I'm trying to see these illustrations, but there's so much different textures, sizes, and it's all weird.  It distracted and confused me.
While I feel like I'm being very harsh on this book I'm not alone in my thought because I consulted others on their thoughts.  My five year old daughter who sat with me and listened and looked at the book as I read it the first time said "I don't like it, it's weird."  The other couple people I will leave unnamed also weren't happy with the book.  To top this off, you do not find out why this octopus is on land.

This next book is better, it's from an old folk song.

The Zebra-Riding Cowboy

Collected by Angela Shelf Medearis
Illustrated by Maria Cristina Brusca

Published in 1992 this is an older book, but not the oldest I'm going to share. What lands this book on my list isn't the song itself, or the illustrations but rather the afterword really stands out.  In the afterword Angela talks about how her nephew thought there weren't any black cowboys, and in doing research she found that there were.  She goes into telling about the folk song and what's known of it's origins, and how there were many races with cowboys, so while TV and film mainly portray white cowboys she set out to change that with her book.
Part of folk songs are that they are passed down not in writing back in the day but by one person hearing it and changing it a bit and passing it along.  After I read the book and couldn't figure out how to sing it I went to YouTube and found that there are a couple different versions.  This one I found I like a lot more than the book.
The Zebra Riding Cowboy is a unique song in that there is a "city boy" who is educated and the cowboys think they are going to pull a fast one on him when they put him on a rowdy unbroken horse, to their surprise he can ride, and ride well for that matter.  The moral of the song/story is that you can't judge someone based on appearances.
Maria Cristina Brusca did the illustrations and really made sure to stick with the message Angela wanted to get across, that not all cowboys are white.  Her illustrations are colorful, entertaining and tell the story.

I know teachers, librarians, and parents who are looking for some crafts and activities to do around the theme of cowboys and girls will love this next book!

I Wish I Were A Cowboy

by Ivan Bulloch & Diane James
Illustrator: Dom Mansell
Photographer: Daniel Pangbourne

World Book Encyclopedia brings us info about cowboys back in the day of the wild west.  Children learn about the clothing articles that were worn and why, about what they ate, and how they slept.  I like that each lesson is very short but teaches something new.  Did you know a bandana wasn't just used to protect the cowboys faces but also could protect their neck from sunburn, used as a knapsack, handkerchief, and a flag? I love the large font size, it makes the words easy to read for younger kids and easy to follow along too.
What makes this book great is that with each lesson there is an accompanying activity that kids will love to do and drives the lesson home because they can be active, use their imagination and act our the wild west.  Each activity is easy and explained well, and the best part is you probably have much of the material at home (or in the classroom) to do each craft already.  You can take each craft/activity and expand upon it to suit your needs and child's wants, so while the craft for making a vest to wear in the book is with paper, you could make it with felt or old clothing and use it to teach sewing and have a longer lasting end product.  Each activity you can make as simple or as complicated as you want.
As you might have noticed there's both an illustrator and photographer, but unlike Cowboy and Octopus which mixed too many medias and had poor results from it, I Wish I Were a Cowboy has detailed illustrations that show the wild west back, small illustrations for each step of the craft or activity and then the photo come in to showcase a child with their craft.
I can see teachers have Wild West Week and using this book each day to make a project for them to use.


Stories of Cowboys
Written by Russell Punter
Illustrated by Fabiano Fiorin

This is another collection of short stories, but instead of each not having a beginning middle and end like Cowboy & Octopus each short story in Stories of Cowboys is a complete story on it's own and you can stop reading after each or continue on with the book.  The font is large for readers and each short story or chapter is about 13 pages.
I love that at the beginning of the book there is a glossary with all the "cowboy words" so children can read them and know what they each mean as they come to them.
I love the way Russell has written this book.  The events are adventurous and comical and done in a way for children to read them.  The villains in the story pull pranks instead of actual harm.  The cattle rustler paints the stolen cows.  One guy cheats in the rodeo with oil on the reins, then brags about how great he is but won't go help a runaway carriage.  I really like the way this was written for children.
The illustrations follow and help tell the story.
If you would like this wonderful book please check out my friend's website to get your copy (best part is it's under $5).

Grab your ten gallon hat, 

 run along to tend your heard

 in one of these books!  

Horses in times of War

Horses have a very rich history.  They have been walking this earth far longer than we have as humans, and about 6,000 years ago they started to change the lives of humankind when we began to domesticate them.  These beautiful, powerful creatures began to help us plow fields, and travel, they became our companions, and were a part of our every day life.  In times of war they (horses) were pulling and carrying heavy loads, and they transported warriors, and thus became soldiers themselves.  Over the years as technology has advanced many people has become disconnected with these trusted, faithful friends of the human race, so this post is to share a couple beautiful books and share some history that isn't taught in the classroom.

Sergeant Reckless: The True Story of the Little Horse Who Became a Hero

Written by Patricia McCormick

Illustrated by Iacopo Bruno

This has been the first (and so far only) non fictional picture book with a horse from history that was in war.  This story takes place during the Korean War, which is one (war) we didn't study in history class when I was in school so I didn't know much about it.  The book focuses telling about how this one horse who was abandoned in the time of the war came to find a home with some marines.  When the marines found this horse they named Reckless she was starving and ate everything in sight.  This continued through the book and my kids and I laughed in amazement at all this horse was eating and how much she became part of the platoon.  They trained her to help haul ammunition.  Her story is one that will show how smart, strong, and emphatic these creatures are.
Patricia McCormick has done a wonderful job in collecting the information on Reckless and in sharing her story.  It's written well and pulls children (and adults) into the pages.  Iacopo Bruno did a beautiful job in the illustrations.  The colors aren't bright and vibrant, but rather dull and a lot of natural colors that set the tone and place the feeling and setting for young readers.  This isn't a bright and cheery story, even though there are funny antidotes.  The details in the illustrations give so much attention to the the horse and this war.  Bruno did an amazing job in pouring the emotions felt from McCormick's words into each and every page.
Sergeant Reckless is a book that I hugged after I finished reading it the first time.  I was emotional and couldn't give the book enough praise.
This is a true story and it's worth it to take the time to read the Author's Note at the end of the book to gather even more details about how this brave horse came to become a hero.
If the book has moved you as it has for my children and myself you may want to put on your bucket list to take them to see her life-sized statue at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.


Moving up from picture books my other book I want to share with you in now a major motion picture which you may have seen, but the book was here first and is well worth the read (of course I think it's far superior than the movie).

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo



This chapter book is one that I had on my book shelf for years, finally one cold winter day I decided to read it because the movie was out and I had to read the book before I could watch the movie.  I fell in love with the story.  I couldn't put it down and finished it in a day.  While this is considered a children's chapter book it is one for all ages.
War Horse is a unique and captivating story in that it's told through the eyes of a horse (Joey) during World War 1.  This is probably what I like most in this book is that you are experiencing everything as the horse and you can feel all the fear, pain, and love.  All the emotions were raw and deep.
There are no illustrations, and they are not needed for Michael paints vidivly with his words how the horse, boy and land look.  You can see the battlefield, the mud and feel the strain of pulling a cannon and watch so much destruction.
Please go read this wonderful story, then when your children are the right age to grasp it read it with them.  Then come back and check out the following articles about true stories behind this wonderful book and the real life Warhorses:
War Horse: The True Story
Michael Morpurgo on the Hidden History Behind the movie  This article goes in depth into the horses in the film and Morpurgo's story and writing the book
The Real Life War Horse: the story of the Sergeant who refused to put down his faithful mount



Are you left wanting to read more about the animals who served alongside soldiers and who were an integral part of our history?  So do I!  I love these stories so if you know of one please drop the title and author in the comments of this post.  

Cowgirl books

born and raised on horseback

I promise I will do another post for the boys...but this one is for all the cowgirls out there weather you are on a farm or you just are a cowgirl at heart.  I grew up on a farm, I had my own horse when I was 3, and have adored horses ever since.  Both of my girls have been the same, growing up around the barn and so we have naturally been drawn to any and all books about horses, farms, and cowgirls.

that special bond

There is a special bond between people and horses, especially girls.  If you have a little girl who loves horses, chances are it is not "just a phase."  I have seen parents say this many times, and most of the time that little girl only grows more passionate about horses and riding.  I am 30 years old and still can't get enough of horses.  I use to be a ranch hand and then a horse back trail guide and there wasn't a time I wasn't jumping at the bit to hop on the back of a horse.

So these books I'm about to share with you are for the little girls that are like me.  They have been kid tested and approved by my own horse crazy girls.  I hope you and your cowgirls love them as much as we do.

The Every Cowgirl series  by Rebecca Janni

There are four of these books, I currently own three of them.  We were introduced to this series about six years ago and they are still well read in our house.  

Rebecca Janni completely understands how little girls who don't have horses feels.  This little girl in the series, Nellie Sue, is a cowgirl! But she doesn't have a horse, and you know every cowgirl needs a horse.  For her birthday she gets a "horse" which is really a bike, but with a child's dreams and imagination it's her horse.  That's one of the many things I love about this book is that it shows how you might not get what you really want but what you make the best of what you have.  The lessons continue in these books.  In the book where she gets her "horse" she has to learn how to ride and not give up when things go bad.  In Every Cowgirl Needs Dancing Boots it shows how hard work pays off to have a party and how to be a good friend.  In Every Cowgirl Loves a Rodeo not only does Rebecca Janni describe a country fair but shows how being in second place is okay as well.

Lynne Avril did the illustrations for all of the books and really captures young girls attention with the bright colors, and pink appears on each page in some way. The illustrations keep little ones attention on the story and engaged in the narritive.
Rebecca and Lynne both show a lot of knowledge of cowgirls, horses, and children through these books, from the art to the way Nellie Sue talks.

 I recently found that there are now early readers for the Every Cowgirl fan so I will be checking out these out very soon.

I Wanna Be A Cowgirl

written by Angela DiTerlizzi
illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic

This book makes me think of myself as a child.  Even though I lived on a small farm, with 4 horses, chickens, dogs, and large yards.  I wanted to be a cowgirl.  I was fortunate to get to travel and see much of the country when I was younger and I would day dream about moving west to the wide open country and living on a ranch and being a "real" cowgirl.  While that dream of a ranch out west has changed over the years the feeling hasn't, I still want a large farm of my own one day which is why I love this book.  It reminds me of my childhood day dreams.  I think it also is inspiring other little girls to dream of a different way of life.
Angela  DiTerlizzi painted a beautiful picture in my mind with her words.  I could clearly see a ranch with chickens, tall grass, a low hanging sun and doing the farm work, bathing in the creek, and being so tired when it was time for bed.  I loved her style of writing and the use of words we don't hear often like mosey, and grub.
The illustrations by Elizabet Vukovic show how the girl plays out her day dream with what she has, milking the cows is really pretending with a pair of gloves on the clothesline, bathing in the creek is jumping into her pool, and her horse is her stick pony.  I love the colors and the kids stay engaged in the story.

I love the pace of this book and the story of it so much I use it in a story time about being a cowgirl.  So it's a wonderful book to read one on one with your kids, or for them to read on their own, but it's a fantastic book for a group of children as well.

When doing a story time program you need more than one book to read to the group.  The story time I did was all about horses, and being a cowgirl.  I shared my own experience, and two books I've written but aren't yet published (I look forward to sharing them once they are.)  I read a about wild horses and then I came across this next book that might very well be my favorite of these cowgirl books...

a photo from the Cowgirl Roundup Story Time I did

If I Had A Horse by Gianna Marino

The very first thing I fell in love with in this book, the first thing that caught my eye, are the illustrations.  The watercolors are astonishing.  Gianna literally took my breath away as I turned each page.  I drank in the scene that was painted, the wild horse, the mountains in the background, the saturated colors, the girl that could be anyone because she left her in silhouette.  She could be blonde, red hair, she could be any nationality, race, or even maybe a little boy with long hair.  That any child could pick up this book, read it and picture them as the child in the illustrations is something rare and lovely.  I would love to have almost any page spread in this book as art on my wall to look at every day.
So the art is beautiful and it tells the story on its own, Gianna Marino could very well have left this a a wordless book.  She didn't, and the words, while simple, speak so loud about how the bond between a human and a horse is formed.  The words are just as beautiful as the art.  I say the words are simple because they aren't complicated, there isn't a country twang to them, and there are no more than 12 words on any page spread.  The way the Gianna wrote she doesn't need any of that.  I love the way she show an understanding of horses and relates it to the child reading the book.

  "He might be shy.  Like me."  "I would have to be strong. Like him."  

The emotions are there, the feeling of riding a horse and being free is there.
There is something extremely special about the bond between a girl and her horse, and it's all in this book.


While looking for other books to use for my cowgirl story time I came across many books I liked but couldn't use due to them not being a good group read, the Every Cowgirl books fall into this group.  Now I did find another book that like I Wanna Be A Cowgirl, had a good pace and the right amount of words that I could have used it.  I did not use it but will share it with you because everyone has a difference in opinion and you might find that it's a wonderful book and I'm crazy for not using it.

I Want To Be A Cowgirl

written by Jeanne Willis
Illustrated by Tony Ross

You can tell from the cover of the book that this is a city girl who wants to be a cowgirl.  That's great.  My issue with this book is that it's portrayed that you can't be a good girl, who likes to talk to other girls and wear dresses and be a cowgirl.  Yes cowgirls get dirty, yes it is a bad idea to wear fancy clothes to the barn, but that doesn't mean that cowgirls don't have that side to them.  This was the whole reason I didn't use the book.  This is a direct quote out of the book that came off Amazon's decription of the book:

I don't want to be a good girl-
Good girls have no fun.
I can't play quiet games indoors,
I love the rain and sun.
I don't want to be a girly girl
Who likes to sit and chat.

No, I'm sorry but I want to teach, not only my girls, but the children that I read to that they should be (and are) GOOD. 
I know the point of the story is that this girl wants to be out west and ride horses and get dirty and not be prim and proper in the city, and that's great, but I think there are other ways to tell that without putting the girls who are "girly girls" down, and that being a cowgirl means you're breaking rules and getting into trouble, because that's not what cowgirls do.
If you check out this book and see something in it that I missed you then comment below because I love conversations around books and think that the freedom to disagree on art and what message you get from books is one of the best things about reading.



While researching cowgirls and looking for books for this story time I came across two other more advanced readers that I loved and again they were too long for an all ages welcome story time, but I think you should curl up with your kids at home and read these two beautiful stories.

Sally Loves Horses!

by Jody Mackey

While there are illustrations on each page spread of the book the word count is much higher than in the previous picture books I shared.  I love this story of Sally who as the title implies loves horses.  She is learning how to ride and wants to be in a rodeo.  So we follow Sally as she learns how to ride, puts in a lot of hard work, has her struggles, and then gets to ride in a rodeo.  I love that this books shows how there are different levels of horses.  I think this is one of the most important things to know as a novice rider you want to start off with easy gentle horses and you will work your way up to advanced riding and high spirited, hot headed horses.  Jody Mackey shows how even in a sport like barrel racing that there is room for friends and how to be a good sportsman.


I have one non-fiction book I desperately wanted to include in my story time but it just didn't work for being read to a large group of young kids.  I did read and discuss it with my girls and I implore you to get a copy and share this unsung role model for girls.

The Original Cowgirl: The Wild Adventures of Lucille Mulhall

written by Heather Lang
pictures by Suzanne Beaky

This is a juvenile biography about Lucille Mulhall.  Have you heard of her?  I didn't.  I learned not only about who she was and what she did, but also about what life for girls was like in the turn of the 20th century.  There were no cowgirls back in the 1890's and it was unheard of for a lady to be in a competition against men.  In 1903 not only does she compete against men, but she beats them at steer roping.
I absolute love this book, and Lucille Mulhall who just sets such an example for little girls everywhere that they can be whatever they want.  That you don't let people tell you you can't do something because you are a girl.
In reading about Lucille I was surprised to learn that she not only meets Teddy Roosevelt and preforms in front of his audience at a Rough Riders show, but he is the one to encourage her to preform more.  If you remember I loved learning about the late president in The Camping Trip That Changed America and this just furthered that.  He was truly a great person who could not only accept a woman of talent but to support her in a time when women were still not able to vote and were suppose to be at home taking care of the house.
I'm sure writing a children's book about a woman who has such rich history couldn't have been an easy task, but Heather Lang has put together a book that reads easily and can be understood for children of a wide age range.  Suzanne Beaky put so much life into each illustration.  The horses face on the one page where Lucille ropes an unbroken horse is priceless and makes you laugh.
On the very last page Lang have a timeline of Lucille's life and more about her.
I read this book in one sitting with my girls.  I think it's one very inspiring and important book.  This woman, who really was just a young girl at first paved the way for many of us today to say we are cowgirls and proud of it.


For those with older and more advanced readers, if you are looking for chapter books there are many out there but I remember reading and loving The Saddle Club series.


 Before I leave you I want to share with you a couple movies that also inspire me and that I have loved and watched many times over.  The movies haven't gotten old for me and I still will put aside what I'm working on to watch them with my girls.


Mom's are you now inspired to read more about cowgirls? Or you just want to be swept away in a country story?  Of course I have adult books I have read and loved that I will share with you both fiction and non-fiction.

Please don't try this at home without adult supervision and someone to catch you

Dream big dreams cowgirls, and you will go on to achieve great things!!