The Golly Sisters Go West (An I Can Read Book) [Library Binding]

Betsy Byars (Author), Sue Truesdell (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: I Can Read Book 3

‘Byars applies her distinctive brand of quirky humor to two adventuresome women determined to dare the frontier with minimum experience. The dialogue and antics are convincingly like those of rivalrous young siblings anywhere on the block. The story lines are clever, and the old-West setting adds flair.’ —C.

Children's Books of 1986 (LIbrary of Congress)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Betsy Byars is a widely read and loved author of many award-winning middle-grade books for children, including Summer Of The Swans (Viking), a 1971 Newbery Medal winner. The Pinballs was an ALA Notable Children's Book in 1977 as well as the basis for an ABC Afterschool Special. Other books she has written for HarperCollins are Good-bye, Chicken Little; The Seven Treasure Hunts, illustrated by Jennifer Barrett; and three I Can Read Books, the popular The Golly Sisters Go West, Hooray For The Golly Sisters!, and The Golly Sisters Ride Again, all illustrated by Sue Truesdell. Ms. Byars lives in Clemson, South Carolina, with her husband.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Library Binding: 64 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (October 29, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060208848
• ISBN-13: 978-0060208844
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,089,553 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Betsy Byars began her writing career rather late in life First, she married and started a family. The writing career didn't emerge until she was 28, a mother of two children, and living in a small place she called the barracks apartment, in Urbana, Illinois. She and her husband, Ed, had moved there in 1956 so he could attend graduate school at the University of Illinois. She was bored, had no friends, and so turned to writing to fill her time. Byars started writing articles for The Saturday Evening Post, Look,and other magazines. As her family grew and her children started to read, she began to write books for young people and, fortunately for her readers, discovered that there was more to being a writer than sitting in front of a typewriter. "Once a wanderer came by my house and showed me how to brush my teeth with a cherry twig; that went in The House of WingsThe Summer of the Swans." Since that time, Byars has written more than 45 books for young readers and has won numerous awards, including The American Book Award, which she received in 1981 for The Night Swimmers. The humor, compassion, and insight Byars brings to each of her books won her a large audience of admirers both in the United States and abroad. Six of her novels were presented on national television, and her books are translated into nine languages. Six of Byars' novels have been named ALA Notable Books, and in 1971, The Summer of the Swans -- a story about a 14-year-old girl and her mentally retarded brother -- won the Newbery Award as the most distinguished contribution to literature for children in the year of its publication. Byars was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 7, 1928. Unlike many of the characters in her books, Byars grew up in a normal, loving family. Her father was an engineer and worked as a bookkeeper in a cotton mill. He was stern and hardworking and had a strong sense of humor. Her mother was a lively woman who loved acting and music. Byars's sister, Nancy, two years older, was sometimes an inspiration and sometimes an evil nemesis. Byars has always been adventurous and never allows a few setbacks to prevent her from doing things she wants to experience, like petting a blacksnake and flying planes. The snake was named Moon and became the subject of her 1991 autobiography, The Moon and I. Betsy Byars and her husband live on an air strip in South Carolina, and have traveled widely throughout the United States in pursuit of their interest in gliding and antique airplanes. They have four grown children and seven grandchildren.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious stories for kids who love to laugh, October 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Golly Sisters Go West (I Can Read Book 3) (Paperback)

My kids are in high school and they still remember the antics of the Golly sisters, siblings with funny adventures and fancy dreams! Along with Amelia Bedelia books, the Golly sisters encouraged my kids to begin reading at a very early age just to relive the antics on their own without Mommy's help. Highly recommend the Golly sisters with a whoop and a holler!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for Kid and Adult !!, January 14, 2004

By 

Martha C. Hall "charleneh41" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Golly Sisters Go West (I Can Read Book 3) (Paperback)

My son and I have been reading "The Golly Sisters" books as part of his nightly first grade home reading. They are very entertaining, easy for a young reader, and wonderful illustrations. He enjoys reading them over and over and as a parent I don't mind listening again.
They are delightful characters who find themselves in such unique and Hilarious situations with their horse and wagon. These are not like other sappy kid books,... very clever!!!!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kids young and old love the Gollys!, October 15, 2006

By 

Chick436 (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Golly Sisters Go West (I Can Read Book 3) (Paperback)

I'm in my 20s, and this is still one of my favorite books! The Golly Sisters are delightfully quirky, imaginative, and believable. Two irrepressible performers on the road with their act, May-May and Rose make every day a hilarious adventure. The illustrations perfectly complement the clever stories, adding wonderful subtle detail (the horse's reactions to the sisters' predicaments are priceless!) Read it to your kids or pick it up when you need a good chuckle, this book is a sure winner.