Funny read for Go Texas week for 2nd grade and lower. My own kids think it is hilarious. A tad long for a picture book so not for a class with very short attention spans or when crunched for time. ( )

Pecos Bill was always one of my favorite tall tales, so I was looking forward to a creation starring his daughter. Well, turns out this story might be better appreciated if read as a stand-alone. Whatley's illustrations gave it an additional star as they're so good. ( )

When the family hamsters start multiplying uncontrollably, the only thing to do is to saddle up and go on a hamster drive! The book follows two children as they drive their hamsters towards the train station to be packed up and shipped off to Chicago so city children can have pets.

RESPONSE: This book is so charming. I loved the spreads that had hamsters running along the bottom, and especially loved the part where the hamsters hid in the prairie dogs tunnels. This book would be wonderful in a unit on cowboys and tall tales, as an example of a modern tall tale.

THEMES/CONCEPTS: Tall tales, American west, cowboys, adventure, parody