Real Cowboys: A Timely Picture Book Revealing Diverse Cowboys in the Modern West for Children

by Kate Hoefler, Jonathan Bean (Illustrator)

In Kate Hoefler’s realistic and poetic picture book debut about the wide open West, the myth of rowdy, rough-riding cowboys and cowgirls is remade. A timely and multifaceted portrayal reveals a lifestyle that is as diverse as it contrary to what we've come to expect.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Westerns, Animals, Fiction, Storytime, Kids

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 4, 2016

About the author

Kate Hoefler received her BA in English and creative writing from Ohio University, and her MFA in poetry from the University of Michigan, where she studied as a Colby Fellow. She is the author of Real Cowboys, Great Big Things, and Rabbit and the Motorbike (with more forthcoming). She makes her home in the rolling hills of Ohio with her two children, a young dog, and an old cat.

Reviews

[Abigail]

With a simple text exploring the true nature of cowboys - cowboys, the narrator assures us, are gentle, thoughtful, and know how to listen and to ask for help - and appealing artwork that captures both the broad sweep of life on the range and the specific experiences of one cowboy, Real Cowboys takes an iconic image and uses it to deconstruct notions of what that image represents. Although tough and hard-working, cowboys are also considerate and caring; although practical and down-to-earth, they are also dreamers and star-gazers. In short: like any other group of people, they contain multitudes...

I really appreciated Kate Hoefler's use of the image of the cowboy in her exploration of stereotypes, as I would imagine that this is not a figure that springs immediately to most people's minds, when they consider the issue of preconceptions and prejudice. And yet, the cowboy has often been one of the archetypal images of masculinity in American culture, so it stands to reason that any number of preconceptions are bound up in how it is viewed. Hoefler gently prompts the reader to reconsider some of those preconceptions in this book, hopefully also leading them to a broader understanding of masculinity. Recommended to anyone who loves cowboy stories, or who is looking for books that explore a wider range of masculine traits than has been traditionally seen in cowboy depictions.

[tracy lou]

I might be naive, and I'm sure there are probably a million problems with this book that many of my friends would love to discuss in a graduate course, but I think that, in general, this book is a very appropriate response to the toxic, disturbing masculinity running rampant in U.S. culture today. This is a great book if you want to talk about character traits.

[Jon Nakapalau]

Wonderful book that introduces children to what cowboys (and cowgirls) really do.

[Jennifer]

I am a little bit in love with this book! I briefly met Kate last winter and I'm excited to finally see the finished product.

Hoefler's poetic, poignant text is set off so beautifully by Bean's illustrations. I especially love the spread of depicting a lone cowboy gazing out over the prairie with the line "Real cowboys cry." Having known more than a few real cowboys in my day (my dad's family is from Oklahoma), I'd say many of them might tear up over this nuanced and honest portrayal of their lives, work and world.

This would be a great book to share for storytime with preschoolers or older children, but even better for a bedtime story for all those little ones who dream of being cowboys (or cowgirls). Highly recommended.

[KC]

Excellent artwork.

[Liz]

like im not gonna pick up a cowboy picture book when its staring at me.

[LJ]

Real Cowboys is one of my new favorite children’s books!!!!!!!!


“Real cowboys want peace”

[Emily Sampson]

Everyone should read this to their children. It’s so thoughtfully written and beautifully illustrated.

[Laela]

Right away this cover grabbed me. The many textures, patterns, and subtle use of color just draws the eye in. BUT THE STORY, oh my goodness, it speaks to me.

I like the way Hoefler portrays cowboys as real people with real feelings. There is nothing rough or tumble about these cowboys. They are patient and kind, lovers of animals and Earth. It is a refreshing change of pace to read about something that is so manly but so gentle and caring.

Thank you Kate Hoefler

[Wendy Robertson]

Real Cowboys depicts cowboys in a way that many people would not first think of. It depicts a much broader picture of what a cowboy is and who they are in a bigger life. This is a wonderful way for students to begin to see rurality in a different light. Amy Azano writes that after moving out of the small Virginian town she grew up in, she was judged first by her accent before people heard her story. "Assumptions were being made about where I was from and who or what I was: a redneck or hick white trash or hillbilly. Despite the roundness of my upbringing, I had been reduced to a flat, static stereotype." (2014, p. 61)

It's all too easy to make assumptions of rurality and what the people that come from rural towns are like. Real Cowboys shakes those assumptions by providing a heartwarming picture of who a cowboy can be. I would imagine this book is one that young students would read and then look up to cowboys. I would also imagine it would spark curiosity and questions which opens the door for a complete conversation on rurality.

[Jacqueline Patterson]

I love how this story breaks through the stereotypical cowboy appearance and personality that consistently exists in all forms of media. Hoefler paints real cowboys as being caretakers for both animals and people. To be a real cowboy, one must look out for others, have patience, and humility. All of which are traits not often portrayed by male characters, especially in children's literature. Hoefler sets out on a mission to show children that masculinity does not mean hiding one's emotions and that vulnerability can be positive.

This can serve as a great read to children growing up in very rural communities, as well as to teach students in urban communities about how others live, and what other communities look like. I can see this being a very beneficial read to lower elementary students.

[Natalie Fosdick]

The book Real Cowboys was a very good look into the life of a rancher and what it takes to be one. Not only did this book have a good story behind it, but the artist did an amazing job with the drawings because they really help show the feelings and situations throughout the book. I liked this book a lot because it depicts many situations that cowboys go through on a daily that people who don't live in rural areas or don't know anything about ranching would not know. A lot of people have skewed views of what ranching is and this book shows every aspect of it including the difficult sides of it, like when they lose cattle or when they work for days or even weeks straight. Rurality is not depicted in a lot of books so I think having this book on your shelf would show children a positive side of it so they do not have a one-sided view.

[Abby Bond]

I really enjoyed reading this book! When children think about cowboys, they tend to think of the ones from the old Western films who are racing down the plains on horseback with a pistol on their hips. I loved that this book depicted what true cowboys are like as they relate to our current world. Cowboys are so much more than riding horses in a cowboy hat. This book depicts all of the ways in which cowboys contribute to their society and have to think of others as a main part of their jobs. I love the way this book represents other parts of our world and the way others live their lives in an authentic way that isn't over dramatized in order to appeal to a specific audience!

[Rachel Roby]

Kate Hoefler hones in on what life is like as a cowboy. Often times cowboys are depicted as gun-slinging, horse-riding thieves. Hoefler proves children and parents wrong. Rather than the typical cowboy depiction, Hoefler depicts life in the wild as hard work, stressful, and rewarding. "Real Cowboys" is an eye-opening experience for children who live in the city or kids in other countries who have never experienced this life-style. I recommend this sweet children's book to parents or educators who simply want to show kids that atypical professions are possible and life outside an office offers more than meets the eye.

[Emma Thomas]

Real cowboys focuses on the job/life of a working cowboy in a rural area. I think often cowboys are given a fantasy title and are often overlooked for the actual job they do. I like how this book described the job of a cowboy and took the fantasy or fake representation out of it. The book showed how people live within these communities that are spread out and rely on the environment and farming around them to receive money. Cowboys and residents of rural communities were represented as strong and caring rather than the harmful stereotypes media gives them. The author also does a great job at using a wide variety of adjectives to not only represent the resilience and intelligence of a cowboy but also paint them and rural communities in a brighter light.
I enjoyed the illustrations in this book and how they were almost muted. They gave me a really calm feeling which I thought was great at making the book realistic. I also enjoyed the flow of this book and I thought it would be really adaptable to children of any age.

[Janet]

If I could give a separate rating for illustrations it would be a 4 star as I did enjoy the colors used as well as the rather indistinct look of the illustrations.
The text well it just doesn't ring true that now we have the real way a cowboy is: all soft and gentle like and his work day goes smoothly because he is in harmony with everything. Seems to me this title is as much of a stereotype of what a cowboy is as the macho stereotype. I am disappointed in this title.

[Sylvester (Taking a break in 2023)]

5* art
3* story

Not exactly a story. Squirt would've liked it better if it was - I mean if he had to choose between this and "Cowboy Small" by Lois Lenski, he would choose the latter every time. The author wanted to get a message across (even tough cowboys have feelings) which is fine, but much better conveyed within a real story. Absolutely gorgeous illustrations, though.

[Rebecca]

Review to come.

[zOdAê aKAê]

beautiful illustration, a topic i don’t normally think abt but will be great esp @ my small conservative library & just honest good story about how cowboys should strive to be- which is good. mixed thoughts abt “real cowboys” aspect bc it is like gatekeepish in the verbage. but the message is clear after reading the book.

[Kiernan Olson]

This book is a great representation of cowboys and their actual lifestyles. Especially with the profession of a cowboy, their job is usually based off of movies and other places where the perspectives are different and dramatized. This is a great juxtaposition to the standardized idea of being a cowboy. It goes into detail about what they actually have to do and how they go about doing so. This book gives a realistic view on the life of a cowboy.

[Malia]

This book is so gorgeous and perfect, and is a lovely positive portrayal of masculinity.

[Presley]

This book does a good job at depicting the life of a rural profession. For children who have had family members that do more farm/ranching work, it is an important representation that can show important characteristics that some see in cowboys (and girls). It creates a positive and peaceful idea of cowboys and rural professions that may not always be stereotyped. We often see these professions painted as "dirty", "aggressive", or "poor", but this book helps to highlight all the beautiful, rich, human qualities that anyone can have.

[Melana]

How did this book not win awards? Beautiful narrative and illustrations. This may be the best book I have read this year.

[Linda]

A picture book illustrated by Jonathan Bean’s interesting colorful cut-outs and collages is always entertaining, and this time Kate Hoefler defines cowboys (who can also be cowgirls) in the most loving of ways. They are strong, patient, kind. They sing to calm the cattle, and keep away the loneliness. It’s a tough job to be away from home so long and to take constant care of the herd. I think there might be acres of conversation when reading this book to a class. I loved that the story shows so many layers of a cowboy’s life. And I wonder if there is a short YouTube that might add to the realism this book implies.

[Tasha]

This picture book takes a look at the skills that really make up a cowboy’s work. It’s not a book about lassoing and riding quickly. Instead the skills that a cowboy needs are things like patience, something that allows them to ride slowly along with the herd. They need to be about to ask for help from others and treat their dogs well. They have to be considerate of those around them and of the environment they ride through. They need to be strong but also careful and caring. They can be girls and are people of all colors. Their jobs may not be all fast horses and wild ruckus, but somehow the quiet reality is all the more heroic.

Hoefler chooses qualities of cowboys’ lives that match those that small children will be learning in classrooms and at home. They ability to share, to take turns, to be considerate, to ask for help. They are all things that we all need to know how to do in our lives. She then writes them in a poetic way that demonstrates how those qualities really matter when out on the range, how they make the job safer. Hoefler also speaks to the loneliness that cowboys feel and the sadness when cattle and dogs are lost.

The illustrations by Bean are bright and stylish. They move from glaring sun to winter storms to deep blue night. Throughout there are the shadows of the land they move through and the cattle they watch. Bean captures the slump of tired shoulders, the wild movement of a stampede, and the beauty of stars above.

A surprising look at cowboys that makes it clear what it takes to be a hero and a good human being. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

[Mary Ann]

I love it when my young readers really get the big ideas--the surprising, unexpected ideas that authors and illustrators layer in their books--even when they haven't yet developed sophisticated language to describe these ideas.In Real Cowboys, Kate Hoefler and Jonathan Bean ask young readers to reconsider the stereotype of a macho cowboy.

Right from the cover, my students could tell that this cowboy was concerned and worried about the animal he was holding. They noticed the cowboy's expression and the way he was holding the calf, with his arms wrapped around it--and they could imagine a story behind this picture.

Hoefler's text flows gently as we start to read the book. Real cowboys, she tells readers, are quiet, thoughtful, gentle, and careful. They stay with their cattle on long rides, through day and night. While the text encompasses all cowboys, Bean's illustrations help young readers see a more distinct story, following a specific cowboy, his herd and his team through their work.

My 3rd graders were not quite able to put into words how this picture book challenges the stereotypes of cowboys, but they definitely got the message that Hoefler and Bean want us to think as cowboys as caring, thoughtful and patient--and not just rushing around on horseback, chasing cattle. Even more importantly, they could make connections to how they want to act in their own lives, how they want to treat others and care for animals. As we ended the story, a quiet hush fell over the room. It was a beautiful moment.

[Margaret]

For centuries, month after month, year after year, they have spent more time in a saddle on horseback than most other individuals. Their dedication to a particular way of life is disputed by few if any. They watch over and herd on ranches and the trail with their constant companions, cattle. They have been the subject of literature, movies, documentaries and television shows.

All of us have definitions for the word cowboy. We have places we put them geographically and historically. Real Cowboys (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, October 4, 2016) written by Kate Hoefler with illustrations by Jonathan Bean lifts them up in an artistic tribute with words and images.


My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...

[Silence]

Audience: Preschool / Grade School

Illustrations: Bright and busy. Jonathan Bean uses multiple layers of silhouettes and texture to create his compositions which gives reads A LOT to look at.

Plot / Review: I really liked the message of this one. Many children go through a period of fascination with cowboys, so I appreciate that this book talks about more than steering cattle. It addresses their connection with the land and their herds. It shows that women can be “cowboys” too. It makes children aware of the fact that there is a code and culture associated with life on the range, and that isn’t something I’ve really seen with other picture books on the topic.

Read Aloud: Yes, but would also work as a one-on-one.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book*]

Hoefler, Kate. Real Cowboys, PICTURE BOOK. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016. $16.99.

Giving insight into how “real” cowboys spend their days, this picture book is full of details. In essence, real cowboys are respectful, hard working, and devoted. They have kind souls and do their jobs well. I also loved that it states that cowboys are many different colors of the earth and that “ Real cowboys are girls, too.” This is essentially a poem in picture book format and it’s outstanding. The pictures are fabulous, the message is on point, and the text is full of imagery. I was very pleasantly surprised by this unassuming treat of a book.

EL (K-3), EL- ESSENTIAL. Reviewed by Shay, School Librarian
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...

[Jana]

This fascinating picture book gives an excellent description of what it's like to be a real cowboy. The author uses personality traits such as quiet, careful, gentle, and calm to tell about the job of moving cattle over long distances. This is a topic that would be very unfamiliar to the students in my urban classroom. The author's style is very engaging and draws readers into this world that many of us only know from watching Western movies. The warm, beautiful illustrations make this a book I would love to have in my classroom library.