Charlie the Ranch Dog, by Ree Drummond with illustrations by Diane deGroat
(Harper, 2011, $16.99, 40 pages, ages 4-8)
Delightful, humorous (and
relaxing) book, from the front cover to the last page (the page before or after
The Pioneer Woman’s [and Charlie’s] favorite lasagna recipe for kids to make).
Charlie is a Ranch Dog
The colorful cover tells all
– Charlie on the porch with a puppy, veggies from the garden, cowboy boots
(adult- and kid-sized), a triangle to ring to ring the gang in to dinner, and a
coil of rope hanging on a hook, perhaps a lasso.
Charlie the canine is a
lovable old fellow with very short legs and very long ears. He explains that a
ranch dog’s work is never done – breakfast (too early), sniffing the porch
steps for critters, barking Daisy the cow out of the yard, morning nap by the
garden, napping near the fence, lunchtime, afternoon nap, barking the cows out
of the garden, a quick nap before dinner. . . . yup, a ranch dog’s work is
never done.
The Story Will Bring a Smile
Charlie’s book is a big one
about everyday life in the country, with more than one picture on each page. Simple
yet detailed illustrations depict ranch life for those who have never visited a
western ranch (or even a working ranch in Oklahoma like Charlie’s). The
full-page spread of Charlie in the barn is so lifelike it will remind you of
the Budweiser Superbowl puppy ads.
Diane deGroat’s artwork
makes the book, but so does Drummond’s story with its humor and twists, so rare
in children’s books but so cute that little ones giggle and remember them,
e.g., about the relationship between Charlie and the younger dog, Suzie, whom
Charlie “permits” to do the hard stuff so she will learn. Tom Sawyer, anyone?
Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman and an Amazing Author
Ann Marie (“Ree”) has led a
simply fascinating life – a doctor’s daughter, California college sorority girl
who met and married a rancher (her Marlboro Man) and ended up in Oklahoma,
homeschooling four children while blogging about being a neophyte on a ranch (Black Heels to Tractor Wheels*)** – and
cooking (Recipes from an Accidental
Country Girl). With boundless energy, Drummond appears on TV cooking shows
and has recently opened a restaurant and store, The Mercantile, in beautiful
downtown Pawhuska, Oklahoma.
*In the works, hopefully: a
movie starring Reese Witherspoon as Ree
**Drummond’s blog, ‘Confessions
of a Pioneer Woman,’ has received the WebBlog of the Year award not once, but twice.
Next: Charlie and the Christmas Kitty
