From Publishers Weekly
For a firsthand look at life on a working ranch, cowpoke wanna-bes should belly up to this thoroughly engaging photo-essay. Longtime collaborators Anderson and Ancona (The American Family Farm) spent two weeks with the Eby family in New Mexico, chronicling the hustle and bustle of spring roundup. Shadowing the Eby boys-ages 11 and 13-their parents and the hired hands, Anderson's smooth narrative and Ancona's vivid photographs capture the drama and drudgery of life on the range. A couple of scenes may be disturbing to particularly sensitive readers-there's a somewhat dark photo of a partially decomposed calf killed by a predator, and an up-close look at branding- but the matter-of-fact presentation helps put the material in perspective. From breaking a high-spirited filly to riding through the sagebrush in search of straying cattle, this is the real thing, a slice of the American West that will quickly lasso the imaginations of young buckaroos. Ages 7-up.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 3-5?From the ephemeral beauty of a Southwestern sunrise to the much hoped-for rain at the end of a grueling two-week round-up, Ancona's photographs and Anderson's lively text chronicle the often harsh existence of a ranch family in New Mexico. The book covers preparation, life on the trail, and penning and branding of the cattle, capturing the smells, sights, and sounds of a round-up in this rugged but beautiful terrain. The result is a vivid account portraying the family's daily routines and customs. Their traditions and hardworking spirit are also presented, revealing the significance of each person's role, including the children. The text is detailed enough to educate, but clear and thoroughly interesting, and the full-color photos are exceptional.?Julie Halverstadt, Douglas Public Library District, Castle Rock, CO
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
