'Til the Cows Come Home [Hardcover]

Jodi Icenoggle (Author), Normand Chartier (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

It was a beautiful piece of leather, smooth as silk and tough as a tornado. In fact, it was the best-looking leather you ever saw. An old cowhand gave it to a young cowboy as a gift. The cowboy cut it up and made a handsome pair of chaps for himself. He said he'd wear those chaps 'til the cows came home. But months of roping and riding wore a hole in one of the legs. That made the cowboy sad, and it set him to thinking. His chaps may be worn out, but he still had some of the beautiful leather. And as long as the cowboy had that leather, he knew he had possibilities. Jodi Icenoggle's endearing story, with lively illustrations by Normand Chartier, is adapted from a traditional Jewish folktale. This time-honored tale finds new life on a cattle ranch in the American West. An author's note and a glossary of Western slang adds to the enjoyment of this story about a piece of leather and a resourceful cowboy.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4--Icenoggle lassos a traditional Jewish folktale ("The Button Story"), sets it in the American West, and rigs it up with tongue-tingling cowboy language to create an engaging story. A young cowboy, gifted in making saddles and bridles, receives a sturdy, soft-as-silk piece of leather from a grateful cowpuncher and stitches it into a pair of "whoopi-ti-yi-yo chaps." When the chaps become worn out, the cowboy uses the leather to make, successively, a "trail-blazin' vest"; a "rootin', tootin' pair of gloves"; a "rip-snortin' hatband"; and, finally, a "jim-dandy button." All of these objects reflect the aging of the leather as well as the context of the cowboy's life, as he grows older, gets married, and has a child. Finally, nothing remains of the original material, but the man has a story to share with his daughter. Chartier's action-packed watercolor illustrations are a perfect match for the author's Western colloquialisms. The full-spread paintings are filled with soft-hued details of a rough-and-tumble life with ranch animals, the rising vista of mountains and prairies, and the cowhand's devotion to his family. Pair this book with Simms Taback's Joseph Had a Little Overcoat (Viking, 1999) for a striking look at contrasting cultures.--Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX
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Review

"... The details in the illustrations extend the sense of tranquility and gentle family relationships-strong muscular horses, gorgeous landscapes of the western countryside, loving family scenes, frisky small animals, and dancing neighbors. This delightful cowboy interpretation of an old Jewish folktale is sure to bring the readers home." --Kirkus Reviews --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press (March 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156397987X
• ISBN-13: 978-1563979873
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,847,140 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Til the Cows Come Home, July 5, 2004

By 

Gari King (Winnett, MT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 'Til the Cows Come Home (Hardcover)

An old story retold with a charming western flair. Our children are older now, but I still look for picture books to give as gifts. This is my most recent favorite. We keep a copy on the coffee table to read to young guests and have several stashed away.

Great story. Great illustrations. Great book!

5.0 out of 5 stars Til the Cows Come Home, June 29, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: 'Til the Cows Come Home (Hardcover)

A wonderful kids book. Engaging story, mine loved it. Wonderful illustrations, kids really enjoy all the visual activity. Fun to read with your kids - we all enjoyed how the story progressed from page to page and have read and re-read it. A nice picture into western, cowboy life and humour.

5.0 out of 5 stars 'Til the Cows Come Home, June 29, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: 'Til the Cows Come Home (Hardcover)

I love this book! It's a wonderful retelling of an old Jewish folktale placed in a Western setting. The story flows beautifully and the language is fun! Children I have read it to have loved all the western terms. There is even a glossary of some of the words and phrases to help with understanding.

The cowboy in the story is given a beautiful piece of leather which he makes into chaps for himself. As time goes by, the chaps wear out and are remade into something new. The cowboy's life also changes with time. The story is full of warmth and the beautiful illustrations fit it perfectly. They are warm and alive and full of action. A welcome change from many of the newer books today. It is a univeral story of life with a new twist.