Why Cowboys Need a Brand

by Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton, James Rice (Illustrator)

he ever get a brand of his own? Will he ever get a ranch of his own? Maybe he will, because, after all, he does have a "can do" attitude. Using his "can do" attitiude, Slim Jim Watkins is able to do things that other cowboys cannot or will not. When all the other cowboys will say that a job was too tough, that no one could possibly do it, then Slim Jim Watkins would pull up his britches and say, "Shoot, I can do that " Slim Jim Watkins' positive frame of mind allows him to earn a bang-tailed bronco, a dozen Longhorn cattle, and a little spread of land 'round San Antone' way. He has everything he needs to have a ranch of his own... except a brand. Will he be able to create an original brand so that he is able to have his own ranch? Hmm...he does have a "can do" attitude... Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton is an Ohio native who lived in Houston for seven years. An elementary-school teacher for more than fifteen years, Ms. Knowlton has since moved back to an Ohio farm with her husband. She is also the author of Why Cowboys Sleep With Their Boots On and Nana's Rice Pie, both published by Pelican. James Rice ia widely acclaimed as the South's leading creator of juvenile books. With more than one million copies of his books in print, he ranks among the nation's top authors and illustrators for juveniles.

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1996

Reviews

[Miri Gifford · Rating 1 out of 5]

My reaction at every stage of this book was um... WHAT. Based on the horrible cover, in which the poor cow is tied up and both animals are visibly terrified, I thought this was going to be some kind of lame justification of the practice of branding animals. Nope. It's just a story about an obnoxious cowboy who can do everything in the whole world except think of a design for his own brand, and the dejected animals are incidental background decoration. What on earth.

[Clarissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have this book in my "Cowboy" genre. The only brand I have seen since I moved to Los Angeles are on people! Really!