There Once Was a Cowpoke Who Swallowed an Ant

by Helen Ketteman, Will Terry (Illustrator)

Overview

"There once was a cowpoke who swallowed an ant—
A fiery thing with a Texas-sized sting.
The cowpoke panted, and his voice got higher.
'Yippie-ti-yay! My stomach's on fire!!'"

In this Texas-styled reworking of There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, a cowboy downs a variety of native Southwest creatures—a spider, a roadrunner, a lizard, an armadillo, a snake, a boar, and more—all to catch that ant! Another hilarious and vividly illustrated tale from the team behind Senorita Gordita and The Three Little Gators.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807578506
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	03/01/2014
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.60(w) x 13.10(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Helen Ketteman is the author of more than nineteen picture books. She writes for children ranging from preschool through fourth or fifth grade, and especially enjoys telling fractured fairy tales. Helen earned her Associate of Arts degree from Young Harris College in Young Harris, GA, and her B.A. degree in English from Georgia State University in Atlanta.

Will Terry has illustrated more than twenty picture books including The Three Little Gators and Little Rooster's Diamond Button. He teaches illustration part-time at Utah Valley State College, creates ebook apps, and lives in Utah.

Editorial Reviews

"Ketteman and Terry have lassoed the perfect combination of comedic language and art, making this new spin on an old tale worthy of a resounding 'Yee-haw!'"—School Library Journal

"It's a romping, regional retelling that introduces new animals to boot."—Kirkus Reviews

"Terry's larger-than-life, humorous illustrations connect with the verse, with hilarious results…Ketteman has another winner!"—Library Media Connection

From the Publisher

03/01/2014
K-Gr 3—This cowboy version of the classic song is a rootin' tootin' good time. Ketteman has done an exceptional job of bringing "There Once Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" to the Southwest, incorporating varmints like an armadillo, lizard, and longhorn to give the story a true desert, uh, flavor. The writing echoes the storytelling style of rustlers gathered round a campfire, which will make it really fun for storytime. The author also includes a twist toward the end that will absolutely delight children. Terry's artwork uses a palette of rich, warm earth tones and complements the entertaining text with charming, bug-eyed characters in slapstick action against a backdrop of cacti, sandstone formations, an outhouse, a saloon, and the cowpoke's cabin. Ketteman and Terry have lassoed the perfect combination of comedic language and art, making this new spin on an old tale worthy of a resounding "Yee-haw!"—Alyson Low, Fayetteville Public Library, AR

School Library Journal

2013-12-18
"There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" gets a down-home Texan transformation. An exaggerated blockhead of a cowboy accidentally swallows a fire ant. His eyes bulge and cheeks puff wide—"The cowpoke panted, and his voice got higher. / ‘Yippie-ti-yay! My stomach's on fire!' " He needs to fix this situation right quick. So what does he do? Why, swallow a spider, of course. But that spider (complete with eight eyes) wiggles and waggles inside him. And so he downs a string of Southwestern creatures—a snake, a roadrunner, an armadillo (shortened to " 'dillo" for the rhythm's sake), a boar and more. The poor cowpoke looks more bedraggled and desperate with each passing animal. But before the expected tragic end of the cumulative song can befall him, determination kicks in. He sets his 10-gallon hat firmly on his head and declares, "If I want it done right, I'll do it myself." In a twist sure to stop young readers in their tracks, the cowboy swallows his rope, his horse and…himself. Those animals stampede right out of his mouth. Warm, sun-baked hues and wide-mouthed gulping scenes amp up the lunacy. Alas, the rhythm takes some bumpy turns, so singing out loud requires practice. It doesn't outshine the original, but it's a romping, regional retelling that introduces new animals to boot. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews