Cowboy A B C [Hardcover]

Chris L. Demarest (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 1999 | Age Level: 3 and up

A is for Appaloosa, a trusty seed. B is for Buckaroo, who rides and top speed. C are the cattle that follow the trail... The spirit of the West rides again in this evocative ABC book. Young cowpokes will enjoy following the story of a cattle drive (alphabetically) and the rhyming text that's perfect for reading around the campfire, or at bedtime, when "Z is the sound at the end of the day."

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-Demarest uses the alphabet as a framework to introduce different elements in the life of a modern working cowboy on a cattle drive. Simple rhymes connect pairs of letters. In some cases, a two-page painting contains both letters: "C are the Cattle that follow the trail./D is the Dog, wagging his tail." Other times, two separate illustrations are used, as in "O is the Oilcloth, slick when it rains./P are the Prairie dogs; they live on the plains." Demarest's watercolors evoke the wide-open spaces of the range, with browns and tans gently broken up by splashes of soft colors. In many scenes, the faces of the cowboys (and at least one cowgirl) are covered or turned away, focusing readers' attention away from the people and toward the fascinating world they inhabit. There's a general progression from the beginning of the day, as the Appaloosa is led from the barn, to nightfall, when "Z is the sound at the end of the day." Some of the terms may be new to young readers, such as "quirt" and "farrier," but the illustrations clearly explain their meaning. An appealing day on the range.
Steven Engelfried, West Linn Public Library, OR
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Young children intrigued by cowboys will find this an absorbing alphabet book. Written and illustrated with clarity and style, the book takes viewers along on a cattle drive to observe details and absorb impressions of this particular American dream. Each page focuses on one letter of the alphabet, with lines such as "K is for Kerchief to keep dust away. / L is the Lariat that brings back the stray. / M is for Mesas that rise up so high. / N are the Nighthawks that circle the sky." Enjoying this colorful alphabet book, young children will long to be home on the range. Carolyn Phelan

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: DK CHILDREN; 1st edition (March 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789425092
• ISBN-13: 978-0789425096
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,795,759 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in the 1950s, Chris Demarest was influenced by both his parents' artist abilities. His mother once worked for the Walt Disney animation studios and his father was a life-long doodler. In the upstairs attic of his parents' house, Demarest's father escaped to draw pictures of airplanes. That passion led his father to join the US Army Air Force in WWII, flying the dangerous missions from India into China, referred to as 'the Hump".

Demarest spent most of his years in publishing doing a cartoon, light-hearted style, but tapped into his youth and began working on a series of adventure books. Firefighters A to Z became a NY Time Best Book 2000. Documenting more firefighting careers, USCG work and the Hurricane Hunters, Demarest does all his research first hand. In 2004, he flew with the Hurricane Hunters out of Biloxi Mississippi into Hurricane Ivan, a Cat 4 storm.

His latest book, ARLINGTON: A History of Arlington National Cemetery will be published by Roaring Brook Press, Fall 2010.

Contact info: [e-mail]
Website: http://www.pbase.com/chrisdemarest
603 460-3095

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 26 Views of Cowboys at Work, February 20, 2000

By 

V. Wit (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cowboy A B C (Hardcover)

We just borrowed this unique book from our local library. The watercolor illustrations in it are especially beautiful, depicting real cowboys at work. The text is well thought out as well, introducing some neat words such as farrier, jinglebobs, oilcloth, and quirt. The lore of the Old West has eroded to the tacky in many cases, but this is a book that is artfully and tastefully done.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Cowboy ABC is a breath of fresh air!, October 1, 2000

By 

Rebecca Brown "rebeccasreads" (Clallam Bay, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cowboy A B C (Hardcover)

The spirit of the West rides again in tribute to cowboys & cowgirls. The horses are saddled, the dogs are barking & it's time to hit the trail for one more cattle drive - a charming roundup of A to Z at home on the range. I enjoyed the poetry & the large, lovely watercolor pictures of this one! For my full review please see [my website]

4.0 out of 5 stars Good art, great writing., October 20, 2008

By 

David E. Goldweber (Oakland, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cowboy ABC (Paperback)

Although fuller and more detailed watercolors are easy to find elsewhere, the art is good enough here to keep both toddlers and parents interested. The paintings are well composed, with emphasis on each item being named. It's also nice that everything is realistic (not idealized, not "politically corrected"). The little verses are all good - no bad rhythms, no forced rhymes. Note that only capital letters are depicted, no lowercase. Overall it's very good, and earnestly written. My 2-year-old really likes it. He also likes Cowboy Dreams by Kathi Appelt.