Armadillo Rodeo

The double-page illustrations display Brett's characteristic polish, intricacy, and bright colors. In keeping with the rodeo theme, the pictures are painted as if on buckskin, with lariat borders. Although the story is a bit weak, Brett's zesty illustrations will keep her fans happy. 

Brett (The Wild Christmas Reindeer; Trouble with Trolls) here gives her trademark, exquisitely detailed art a Western flair as she sets this endearing tale "deep in the heart of Texas hill country." "Don't go gettin' distracted on me," a mother armadillo cautions Bo, one of her four young 'uns. Undeterred, the ever-curious Bo follows a lizard down to the creek just as young Harmony Jean slides down the bank, trying to scuff up her brand-new "pointy-toed, high-heeled, hand-tooled chili-pepper red boots with fancy cutwork, tall tops, and a Curly H brand." Bo (who, like all armadillos, can't see very well) mistakes the boots for a shiny red armadillo, whom he greets with a friendly "Howdy." Impeccably reproducing the design, stitching and trims of Western clothing, border panels follow Bo's brothers and Ma as they search for their weak-eyed wanderer. He, meanwhile, is having the time of his life at the Curly H rodeo, where he rides on the back of Harmony Jean's horse, munches on a jalapeno pepper under a table and kicks up his heels at a barn dance-all in the company of his new "friend." The high-spirited hero and action-filled art will please the author/artist's many fans. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)

Gr 1-3--Every icon associated with Texas mythos is incorporated into Brett's latest picture book: boots and spurs, cactus and bluebonnets, barrel racing and bull riding, Bar-B-Q and hot peppers, and...armadillos! Weak-sighted Bo, a baby dillo, mistakes one of Harmony Jean's new red boots as a potential friend and follows it throughout a busy day, while his ma and brothers search for him in all the wrong places. By day's end, Bo has ridden horseback, sampled the jalapenos, two-stepped at the barn dance, and been rescued by his mother. Brett's distinctive style shines in these joyous pictures filled with the excitement and fun of a day at the rodeo. Each double-page spread is framed by a lariat and decorated with side vignettes of tooled leather depicting offstage events. A delightful addition to the artist's canon.--Ruth Semrau, formerly at Lovejoy School, Allen, TX