Little Britches: Father and I Were Ranchers [Paperback]

Ralph Moody (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1991

Ralph Moody was eight years old in 1906 when his family moved from New Hampshire to a Colorado ranch. Through his eyes we experience the pleasures and perils of ranching there early in the twentieth century. Auctions and roundups, family picnics, irrigation wars, tornadoes and wind storms give authentic color to Little Britches. So do adventures, wonderfully told, that equip Ralph to take his father's place when it becomes necessary.

 

Little Britches was the literary debut of Ralph Moody, who wrote about the adventures of his family in eight glorious books, all available as Bison Books.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ralph Moody (1898–1982) is the author of Come on Seabicuit! as well as the Little Britches series about a boy's life on a Colorado ranch, all available in Bison Books editions.

Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Bison Books (September 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803281781
• ISBN-13: 978-0803281783
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.6 x 7.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (108 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,701 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Regional U.S. > West
  • #88 in Books > History > Americas > United States > State & Local
  • #94 in Books > History > Americas > United States > 20th Century

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

125 of 126 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Build Your Character House February 28, 2003

By kaitie lee

Format:Paperback

If a classroom full of students with BEHAVIOR problems can sit through this book without incident, you can imagine how compelling this story is.

Little Britches is the first book in an autobiographical series. Ralph Moody (aka Little Britches) tells us about his family's move from the East and their struggles and triumphs as they scrape a living from a ranch in Colorado. Ralph is 9 years old, with an older sister and several younger siblings. The book is much more than a chronology of interesting and exciting events-- much more. It is rich in the values of honesty, family unity, ingenuity, and the pride of doing a task well.

There are many strong messages about building character -- earning trust, earning respect, and giving a man a good day's work. Ralph's wonderfully wise father is his primary teacher regarding the building of Ralph's "character house", but along the way Ralph meets other memorable men -- "Hi" the cowboy was our favorite. Ralph gets in several predicaments, doesn't always make the right choice, but takes to heart his father's wise counsel.

This book is a true treasure. I would recommend it for ages 5 and up as a read aloud. 10 and up to be read alone. A great read for adults too -- a "can't miss" present. Don't hesitate -- put it in your library and then share the gift of this wonderful author.

57 of 58 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Book October 20, 2005

By iggy

Format:Paperback

Little Britches is one the best books we have ever read! It has sparked a number of conversations with my young sons about character and wise choices. This morning I even pulled it out to read a quote from it after they had disobeyed me about something! The quote is something Ralph's father says to him after he (Ralph) has lied: "If (a man) tells lies to be able to do the things he shouldn't do but wants to, his character will soon become a ruin. A man with a ruined character is a shame on the face of the earth."

I highly recommend this book BUT please be aware that it does contain cursing! Fortunately, we are reading this aloud, so I can skip over objectionable words, but in all the reviews I have read (on Amazon and elsewhere), no one has mentioned this. Am I the only one who objects to my elementary-school aged children reading curse words?

Anyway, wonderful book, HIGHLY recommended!

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Little Britches December 6, 1999

By Brenda Noorlander

Format:Paperback

In 1987 while living in Haines,Alaska;I asked the librarian for a good book. I wanted something like Little House on the Prairie kind of story. She handed me Little Britches. I took it home and read the most wonderful adventure of a boy, growing up and learning lessons in life. It touched my heart so deeply I felt I knew him. I returned to the library after I had finished reading the book and asked if he had written any other's. The library owned one other book by Ralph Moody and that was Man of the Family. It was checked out,and not due in for two weeks. I put in a request and waited anxiously. When I finally was able to read it, it was just as wonderful as the first. To my delight Mr. Moody had written many books of his childhood. I have six children who love me to read these stories to them. Of all the books I have ever read, I must say by far that Ralph Moody's Little Britches is my all time favorite book.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic to file beside Tom Sawyer on your bookshelf. October 20, 2005

By Zoe Blum

Format:Hardcover

I've read the Little House on the Prairie and Anne of Green Gables series and this beats the lunch money out of both those series! I'm in my mid-twenties and read this aloud with my parents who are in their mid-sixties and we couldn't put it down! We'd read together late into the night, and steal it away to read ahead on our own whenever we could. Little Britches is tough, brave, and hilarious! Ralph Moody has written in a wonderfully straightforward manner of the joys and tragedies of a life lived with dignity, honor, and especially humor. "Father" teaches so simply and beautifully the way to love and raise children. His family becomes so real that you feel like you're saying goodbye to your best friend when the book ends. I laughed and cried and practically wet my pants because I couldn't bear to take a break in the middle of the chapter. I'll read this one over and over. It's something that grows into you and is impossible for you to grow out of.

P.S. DO NOT read this series out of order.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book of life's most important lessons. June 23, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

Little Britches is the sort of book that you wish could be made available to every man, woman and child in today's mixed up world. It is wonderfully inspirational and would go a long way toward making you think about what is really important in life and how you ought to go about being the best kind of human being that you could be. I have re-read the entire Little Britches series for the last 20-plus years and just recently ordered the entire set from Amazon.com. I am thrilled to think that they are still in print and I look forward to many years of enjoyable re-reading of them again. Do yourself a favor and buy Ralph Moody's books. He had tremendous insight about life and living. He would undoubtedly be the kind of man we'd all like to know, be friends with, have as a dad, husband, brother etc. You'll love his books. You'll laugh and cry and be transported back into a wonderful time of life. You'll be left with some great new thoughts and feelings about what really matters after all.