Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Rodeo
Novelty Picture Book
For ages 6 to 8
Bright Sky Press, 2007 ISBN: 978-1933979038
Put on your cowboy boots and hat, and tie a kerchief around your neck because we are going to the rodeo! The first thing you will see when you arrive, are men and women getting themselves and their horses ready for the events ahead. They will be putting saddles and bridles on their animals, pulling on their boots, and making sure that they have all the rope and other items that they need.
Then the riders and their horses parade around the ring, waving to the crowd and accepting their applause. Once this is over, the events begin with bronco riding. Some cowboys believe that "this is the most grueling event in the Rodeo" and with good reason. Imagine having to ride on the back of a bucking horse holding on with only one hand!
Next, cowboys compete in the steer wrestling event. How long do you think it would take you to jump off a moving horse so that you can wrestle a large steer to the ground? You might want to try the elegant but still challenging barrel racing instead. In this event, you ride a horse around a configuration of barrels as quickly as possible. Too tame for you? Then the calf roping might be more to your taste. You're going to have to practice your lassoing if you want to compete in this competition.
In this unique novelty title, Roxie Munro describes what takes place at a Rodeo in an innovative way. When you first look at the pages they appear to be text free, but if you open the flaps – and they are fifty of these in the book – you will find text tucked inside the largest flaps. Some of the flaps have a single fold but others open up to reveal a whole series of illustrations. Without a doubt, Roxie Munro gave the humble lift-a-flap book a new dimension when she created this book.
