Pecos Bill: The Greatest Cowboy of All Time

Introduction to a great American comic hero and to the delights of the American tall tale. Jolted off the back of his westward-bound pioneer family's covered wagon, four-year-old Bill is left in the dust by his eighteen wawling and brawling siblings and never-suspecting mom and dad. Raised by coyotes as one of their own, Bill retains a natural innocence while developing a host of supernatural powers. When he finds out that he is a man, not a coyote, and returns to confront the often inhuman human world, those powers will come in handy. Bill never uses them maliciously, always for good, or simply to amaze and amuse.

Ok, it was long, but still a fairly quick read. Definitely a boys' book, with fistfights, practical jokes, braggadocio, etc. Poor Slue-foot Sue gets put in her place but good. Also glorifies the process of clearing the plains for Indians and buffalo to make way for cattle.

But it's an engaging story, readable and accessible even to modern children. If I were a parent I'd read it with my child and use the controversial bits as teachable moments. There are good bits about courage, honor and egalitarianism, etc., too. And the pictures are marvelous - so alive, expressive, and joyful.

What struck me most significantly is that this version of [b:Pecos Bill|1558260|Pecos Bill|James Cloyd show more Bowman|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-4845f44723bc5d3a9ac322f99b110b1d.png|1023021]'s story is a narration, told almost straight. Sure, most of the tall-tale episodes are here, but they're not told in the familiar style that I associate w/ other tall-tale tellings. There's too much detail of sequence, too much depth of character - tall tales that I'm more familiar with are concise listings of anecdotes, with an emphasis on the humor of the exaggeration. Despite the claim in the intro. re' broad humor," I didn't find this all that funny.

And now I'm going to read my childhood favorite, [b:Pecos Bill and Lightning|9572074|Pecos Bill and Lightning|Leigh Peck|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1288033620s/9572074.jpg|14458911]" show less

A gathering and retelling of the Pecos Bill legends for a young audience. S'okay, but not really my favorite genre.

These are some of the original Pecos Bill stories and if you grew up on Pecos Bill as I did you will love this volume! Some very nice plates too.

Full review: ( http://bachlab.balbach.net/coolread4.html#pecosbill ) in summary: probably the best collection of stories of the apocryphal legend of Pecos Bill, winner of the 1938 Newbery Honor and beautifully re-produced with original artwork.