Juan and the Jackalope: A Children's Book in Verse

by Amy Córdova (Illustrator), Rudolfo Anaya

When Rosita, the loveliest gal in the Pecos River Valley, offers her delicious rhubarb pie as first prize for the Great Grasshopper Race, a thousand love-struck vaqueros line up for the competition. Of course everyone believes that the legendary cowboy Pecos Bill, riding his giant grasshopper, Hoppy, is a shoo-in for the grand prize. Sure enough, Bill and Hoppy give an impressive performance, crisscrossing the Southwest in a raucous ride. But young Juan, who is hopelessly in love with Rosita, astonishes them all when he and Jack the Jackalope take a miraculous ride around the world and across the Milky Way. The daring pair return, covered in stardust, to claim the beautiful Rosita and her delicious pie. Set in New Mexico, Anaya's fanciful story, coupled with Amy Córdova's vivid illustrations, brings the tradition of Southwestern tall tales to a new generation of young readers. Ages 6 and up

32 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2009

Reviews

[Cassandra Villanueva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that this book is set in New Mexico and written by a famous New Mexican author. It is a beautifully written and illustrated book about vaqueros vying for the attention of Rosita in the Pecos Valley.

[Mona Blaber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used to read this to my daughter as a toddler, and we still love to go back to it. Lyrical, funny, playful and chock-full of New Mexico and Southwestern references.

[Avanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended by a friend as her/her child's favorite Christmas story. It is wonderful. For me, knowing a little less about the New Mexican specific cultural things, it took a *little* explaining to *really* get it - but it is wonderful even without the explanations. (though if you want to do a little research on some of the characters, I think it's worth your while!)