Pecos Bill

I have always enjoyed reading folktales and this story was no exception. I thought that the way that the author retold this tall tale was brilliant and engaging, especially with the illustrations to go along with it. I really like that Kellogg made it so that the plot of the story encompassed many aspects from Pecos Bill stories (as in he did not just focus in on one part). He told the audience about how Bill’s family traveled west, how Bill was raised by wolves, how he got to Texas, when he got married, and many more parts. My favorite in particular was how Bill invented cattle roping. “Just as the bull whirled around to trample him, Bill snagged him with the rattlesnake and yanked with all his might…” (p. 14).
One other aspect show more of this story that caused me to like it so much was the humorous language that Kellogg used throughout the entire book. “The clan considered settling in East Texas, until Bill’s ma noticed a homesteader putting up a shack about fifty miles away. ‘Another crowded neighborhood,’ she grumbled.” (p.2) The use of these subtle jokes engaged me from beginning until the very end.
The message that this book is trying to get across is that there is always a solution for everything, even if it might seem outrageous to you. For example, when Bill came across the rattlesnake, he decided to squeeze it until all of the poison came out and to use it as a lasso to calm the bull. As outrageous as that might be, Bill used what was provided to him in the story and made due with what he had, which is what many of us need to learn how to do! show less

This may very well be my favorite book of all time. There are very few books that I can remember the first time I not only saw it, but checked it out from the library. This story starts out like a lot of stories before it. A family is leaving the east coat during the time of west expansion and heading west. During a trip out there a young boy in one of the families is pulled out of his covered wagon while fishing in the Pecos River. He is saved by a mother wolf who raises him as a wolf. From there it is a story of amazing triumph, perserverence and determination that makes Pecos Bill the biggest legend the west has ever seen. A classic of classics.

This retell of the folktale Pecos Bill is geared towards a younger audience, third grade. It would be appropriate when students are learning about folktales. The illustrations are very detailed and a lot of fun for students to look at. The illustrations vary in size and provide details to the text. The illustrator uses different shading techniques to give the pictures depth. The text accompanied by the pictures helps students to see some of the aspects that make up a legend or folktale. For example, towards the end of the book Pecos Bill “ropes a storm” to help rescue his bride. Students can read this and see it and realize that it is impossible. The illustrations can also be used to help students make predictions. During one scene show more Pecos Bill wrestles a giant rattlesnake, in that particular drawing and following ones the audience can see parts of another creature that Bill later faces. Using the illustrations teachers can help students gather information and make predictions. This book is fairly large and contains big illustrations, making it appropriate to read aloud to a class. There are a group of characters in this book called the “Hell’s Gulch Gang” this may not be appropriate language to use for such a young class. show less

The life and adventures of Pecos Bill, the Texan icon. Bill is very extreme and adventuresome, which would make him very appealing to children. The plot is very fantastical and entertaining. It is set in Texas during the pioneer days. The style is simple and there is no distinguishing theme to the story. The illustrations are wonderful, colorful representations of the story. Children would find the story amusing and entertaining, and I would include this in my collection.

Pecos Bill is a great book for older students in elementary school. The book tells the tale of a young boy growing up with coyotes and deciding to be a cowboy in Texas. The rest of the story talks about his adventures as a cowboy and the troubles he runs into along the way. Pecos Bill always finds a solution to his problems and ends up being the best cowboy in Texas. I love the detailed descriptions given in this book and the colorful pictures that bring the book to life. The author does a great job of using descriptive words to make the story more interesting as well.

3rd-5th
The main character is a boy, so it may be more geared toward young boys, or those specifically interested in pioneers or ranching. In this folk tale, there is a great deal of hyperbole and exaggeration. For example, it is not possible to really lasso a tornado, however, Bill does it. Have students identify the difference between what could be true and what is clearly exaggerated. It is important for children to be able to decipher between the two.

Steven Kellogg's vibrant, highly detailed illustrations and straight-forward text tell the story of Pecos Bill, one of the greatest cowboys in Texas. In addition to Pecos Bill's amazing feats (wrestling wild animals, taming rattlesnakes, battling the natural elements), Kellogg shares gorgeous illustrations of Texan landscapes and the world of Pecos Bill. This book could be incorporated into a unit of tall tales along with Kellogg's other books about similar characters and a discussion about these figures' roles in Western American culture.