From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2–The cowpoke and her horse are back, once again riding the range in this beginning reader. From shoeing to roping to rounding up cattle, Kate is as resourceful as Cocoa is contrary as they once again prove that a best friend is one you can count on through hot and cold, weak and strong, and even wet and dry. Lewin's cartoon style is as fresh as a prairie breeze after a spring rain. Set against a white backdrop, bold black outlines and warm watercolors underscore the busy days of ranch life. Libraries will have a hard time keeping this title in stock, so be sure to purchase more than one copy.
–H. H. Henderson, Heritage Middle School, Deltona, FL Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Partners, the amusing sequel to the engaging
Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa (2005), features four short, episodic chapters, each telling a new tale of the little cowgirl and her horse. In the first, Kate has difficulty convincing Cocoa that horseshoes are a better choice for him than cowboy boots. In the next, they play hide-and-seek on the range. Kate tries to use the uncooperative Cocoa for cow-roping practice in the third adventure, and in the fourth, they explore the highs and lows of the horse-and-rider partnership. The clean lines and buoyant spirit of the watercolor artwork reflect the simplicity and humor of the entertaining text. This is a pleasing choice as either a beginning reader or a picture book to read aloud.
Carolyn PhelanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
