Rusty and His Saddle: a Rusty the Ranch Horse Tale
by Mary Fichtner; illus. Roz Fichtner
Cheyenne, Wyo. : the author, 2017
Rusty and His Saddle is a great example of the Wyoming code of ethics: “The Code of the West.” Each page depicts a characteristic with a specific word that will help readers understand these cowboy ethics.
Rusty is a wonderful ranch horse that all readers will relate to. He is not a fancy show horse. He does not have a fancy prize saddle. He is just a good old, hard-working ranch horse. Rusty will help teach readers the cowboy ethics during a working day on the ranch. And what really matters on the trail…how we ride.
Fichtner has written several stories, in rhyming text, based around her real-life ranch horse Rusty. The beautiful, bright colored illustrations, done by Fichtner’s daughter Rozlyn, bring Rusty’s world to life. Join Rusty the Ranch Horse for more adventures: Rusty Under the Western Skies, Rusty Goes to Frontier Days, Rusty and the Pot of Gold, Rusty and His Friend the River, and Wrong Color Rusty.
Bonnie Stahla, Youth Services Librarian
Crook County Library
Is It True?
by Eugene Gagliano, illus. Sarah Bradstreet
Jackson, Wyo. : Sastrugi Press, 2018
Is it True? What a fun book of funny children’s poetry. The illustrations are simple black and white drawings. From the poem “Is It True?”: …Is it true if I keep making this face, it will probably stay this way? Somebody please tell me I need to know today. Various topics are covered including upset moms, tall girls, school, food, pranks, families, and chores — things of interest to children. From “You Are What You Eat”: You are what you eat, Mom told my little brother. So now he doesn’t eat one thing or another. …He won’t drink a glass of milk ‘cause it might make him moo. The book includes things you may need to talk to your children or grandchildren about, that are misunderstandings of common expressions The “Heard That Before” poem says, The dog ate my homework, is what I said. The teacher frowned. I wished I was dead. … My dad said the evidence might make you gag, But I brought you the proof right here in this bag.
Deb Kelly, Librarian
Northwest College Hinckley Library