Little Britches: Father and I Were Ranchers

I found this ragged old copy of Ralph Moody's LITTLE BRITCHES at a local library sale. Bought it for my grandson, but my wife picked it up to look at it and ended up reading it straight through, and said, "You'd like this yourself. Try it." And so did I, read it straight through, I mean. It's that good a story. Ralph Moody's own story about growing up on a poor dry land Colorado ranch. It begins in 1906 when Ralph - the "Little Britches" of the story - was 8 years old and covers the next three years, telling the story of Charlie and Molly Moody's family of five children - Ralph was second oldest - trying to make a living after moving west from New Hampshire, looking for a dry healthy climate, where Charlie might recover from show more tuberculosis. Young Ralph wants to be a cowboy, and he makes a darn good start, learning to ride and handle a team of horses from the time he is 8 or nine. By the time he is eleven he has even learned some stunt riding and how to cut cattle under the tutelage of his sure-enough cowboy pal, Hi. He has also learned to drive a hay rake and plant vegetables and maintain a garden and build an outhouse and other rough carpentry - much of this from his father, who is very inventive and clever with his hands. He learns about breaking horses and rides in a rodeo before he is twelve. All of these things are related in simple straightforward storytelling that does not fail to delight and keeps you turning the pages wondering what will happen next. In other words, Ralph Moody tells a good story - his own. You will be reminded of Laura Ingalls Wilder's LITTLE HOUSE series of books. In fact, Moody wrote several more memoirs before he was finished, in addition to several historical novels for young people. In researching Moody (1898-1982) a little, I found it interesting that he did not begin to write until he was well past fifty. By then he had a wide variety of experiences to draw from and just kept on writing them down. Moody is such a natural story teller and engaging writer I am going to try to read some more of his stuff. LITTLE BRITCHES I will recommend highly. (And yes, we are giving it to our grandson to read. I hope he likes it as much as we did.) Oh, and P.S. The book was first published in 1950. In 1970, Disney adapted it for a film called THE WILD COUNTRY, starring Ronny Howard and his little brother, Clint. show less

I should maybe wait until the emotions from the last chapter have passed; but from the very first chapters, I had already decided this is a book that every single one of my children will read, and each of the books in the series are on my to-read list, at least mentally.

The language of the book is so beautiful, the way Moody simply describes his life and activities. It’s plain-spoken and matter-of-fact, but there’s almost a poetry to it, and the narrator describes things just enough to get a good idea of the places and people and how he feels about them and not a word more. There’s an ease to his storytelling, and the adventures this young boy has are exciting and contain just the right amount of danger. I was also constantly in show more love with Moody’s relationship with his father. He learns so much from him and he loves and respects his father so fully, and he finds such beautiful ways to express it. And any man who is able to teach his son so much about life with a soft word and firm actions, but also so much trust and regard is certainly a man to be admired. It about broke my heart when the last chapter came around and it was obvious what was to come.

I have tomboys and girls who love horses and one little boy who loves a good story. This whole series is destined to be added into our home’s bookshelves, and read for years to come. show less

Ralph Moody's "Little Britches" is one of those rare books that stays in your heart forever. This is the first in an autobiographical series written by Ralph Moody about his childhood in Colorado in the early nineteen hundreds. The story is filled the sorts of adventures that are near and dear to a young boy's heart, but the core of the story is Ralph's relationship with his father.

Ralph is a typical boy and full of mischief, but his father's simple words of wisdom always manages to keep Ralph on the path of honor and integrity. The values taught by Ralph's father spill through the story to the reader in a way that is rarely seen in today's novels. Ralph and his family become so real and dear that you will feel like you've said goodbye show more to your best friend when you read the final page. This book is for both adults and children, but if you are going to read just one book to your children, let it be this one. show less

Ralph Moody was eight years old in 1906 when his family moved from New Hampshire to a Colorado ranch. Through his eyes we experience the pleasures and perils of ranching there early in the twentieth century. Auctions and roundups, family picnics, irrigation wars, tornadoes and wind storms give authentic color to "Little Britches". So do adventures, wonderfully told, that equip Ralph to take his father's place when it becomes necessary.

In some ways this is like the boys' version of Little House on the Prairie. But judging by its bestseller status, a lot of adults were reading it, too. Appeals to nostalgia, to a time when it seemed that life was simpler, people were closer to God and nature, neighbors knew each other. I'm so glad I didn't live back then.

Father 'teaches' the downright naughty Ralph lessons in being a man. He's a slow learner, but, "I always loved him more after he scolded me than I did at any other time." (Actually, a reader is given the impression that spankings were doled out as often as scoldings, and those, too, strengthened the bond between them.)

"Grace could ride a stacker horse just as well as I could and she didn't think it was fair that I got show more all the money-making opportunities while she had to stay at home and help Mother." And since she is two years older than Ralph, when he goes off at age 11 to be a cowboy, she gets her wish.

"You know, Son, sometimes a fellow has to take a licking for doing the right thing. A licking only lasts a short while, even if its a hard one, but failing to do the right thing will often make a mark on a man that will last forever."

If you like that sort of thing, it's a five star book. Me, not so much. No interest in the sequels. show less

Really episodic, but well written and engaging. This is probably a somewhat romanticized version of the author's childhood, and is as much about his relationship with his father as it is about the west.

If you're thinking of reading it to your kids read it yourself first. It might not suit all children terribly well. You'll be glad you read it though.

This story is on a par with the "Little House" series, only this one definitely appeals to boys, as well as girls. Told from the perspective of a boy called Little Britches, it is a moving and humerous recounting of the trials and joys of early days in Colorado. The struggles of small farmers, of boys and their fathers and of growing up, are all woven with wit and charm. My children loved this when I read it aloud and my boys in particular were entranced to hear a story about a boys troubles and not another girl.