Kissimmee Pete, Cracker Cow Hunter [Hardcover]

Jan Day (Author), Janeen Mason (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

A tall tale based on the life of the frontier cowboy, or "cow hunter," as they are called in Florida, this book is full of sassy word play and cracklin' adjectives. Follow Kissimmee Pete, a velvet-voiced, gator-wrestlin, stinky, tender-hearted, clever cracker cow hunter as he gets himself a herd as big as the sky. This colorful picture book is a real kick to read aloud!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4–This tall tale is based on the lives of Florida's frontier cowboys, called cracker cow hunters because they herded and corralled their livestock by cracking long whips to keep the animals in line. Kissimmee Pete is one of these men, and the story details his many adventures and exploits. He is helped by a dog named Mud; a speedy horse called Blaze; and String Bean, his pet green cow. Each adventure adds another descriptive adjective to Pete's name, so that at the end of the book he is: Kissimmee Pete, the legendary, brainy, velvet-voiced, gator-wrestlin', stinky, hard-ridin', tender-hearted, courageous, cranky, clever, cracker cow hunter, who can still be seen riding at dawn on the Okeechobee prairies. The clever text is full of humor and flows well, and is set off by eye-catching illustrations that give the pages energy and imagination–just right for a tall tale.–Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
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Review

"Children will love this array of creatures from the Florida ranch lands, plus cowpoke Pete and his dog." -- Palm Beach Post

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing (October 31, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589803256
• ISBN-13: 978-1589803251
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,062,449 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Teaching Children a Sense of Place, November 17, 2005

By 

Nelson E. Bailey - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kissimmee Pete, Cracker Cow Hunter (Hardcover)

The children's book KISSIMMEE PETE is a signifiant and beautiful contribution to teaching Florida children a sense of place, and a sense of the uniqueness of the state that is their home. KISSIMMEE PETE is a wonderfully simple child's story told in the finest tradition of old-time storytellers; the illustrations accompanying the story are beautifully imaginative and perfect for the story told. I am aware that both the writer and the artist for this book, before putting their book together, spent time with some of the actual old-style Florida cowhunters and with the old breeds of Florida horses and Florida cattle. Their writing and artwork are richer for it, and truer to the art of the storyteller. If your own children or grandchildren live in Florida, when they become adults their memories of "home" will be memories of Florida -- not memories of the state or country you are from if your own childhood was anyplace other than Florida. Don't cheat your children and grandchildren out of that same "sense of place" for their childhood home too. Just remember, their home is Florida. This book tells them about a significant part of Florida's unique history and heritage.
- Judge Nelson Bailey, Florida Historian -

5.0 out of 5 stars Florida Kids, December 9, 2011

By 

Smith - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kissimmee Pete, Cracker Cow Hunter (Hardcover)

FANTASTIC for Floida kids! This is a fun, literary rich adventure through Florida history and folk tales. Small children love the sounds of the repeated words while older children love the adventure on every page.