Title: BUBBA THE COWBOY PRINCE
Author: Ketteman, Helen
Illustrator: Warhola, James
Publisher and publication date: Scholastic Press, a division of Scholastic Inc., 1997
ISBN: 0-590-25506-1
PLOT SUMMARY:
BUBBA THE COWBOY PRINCE is a Texas version of the retelling of the Cinderella story. Bubba is cowboy who lives in Texas with his evil stepfather and two stepbrothers. The stepbrothers, Milton and Dwayne, get everything they want while Bubba is required to do all the house and ranch chores. One day, Miz Lurleen, a local wealthy and pretty rancher, decides to throw a ball in order to find herself a husband. While the stepfather and the sons leisurely prepare for the ball Bubba busily helps them get ready in addition to taking care of all of his other chores. After Bubba's family leaves he rides out into the pasture where he encounters his fairy godcow. She prepares him for Miz Lurleen's ball and when he arrives he and Miz Lurllen have a marvelous time dancing together. At the stroke of midnight he turns back into himself and while running off loses one of his dirty boots. The next day Miz Lurleen sets out looking for her cowboy prince. She finds him, Bubba tries on the boot which fits perfectly, she asks him to marry her, he accepts, and they live happily ever after.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
This story is a fractured fairy tale on the classic Cinderella story. This book provides insight into what life and language is like on a ranch. Some examples of life on the ranch are the descriptions of Bubba's chores as a "ranch hand" such as "breaking in" a new horse, rounding up cattle and reshoeing the horses. A few examples of the new vocabulary that can be learned that are "Texan" are feller, git them dogies, cowpatties, and gussied up.
Miz Lurleen is a wonderful role model for girls-an independent, think-for-yourself, successful type woman. The pictures which are oil on canvas help complement the text and make the characters and the story come to life. Each time the story is read new things are noticed. For example, the "fairy god cow" runs throughout the story and if close observation is made she can be seen hiding in the background on some of the spreads where Bubba is involved in the action.
This is an excellent source to learn about life on a ranch and the language that is unique to farm living.
REVIEW EXCERPT:
San Francisco Chronicle: "Gender flip-flops of classic fairy tales can be a lot of fun."
CONNECTIONS:
There are many other books that deal with a different version of the classic Cinderella story so I have just listed a few that you may want to consider:
Lowell, Susan CINDY ELLEN: A WILD WESTERN CINDERELLA ISBN: 0064438643
Pollock, Penny THE TURKEY GIRL: A ZUNI CINDERELLA STORY ISBN: 0316713147
Climo, Shirley THE EGYPTIAN CINDERELLA ISBN: 0064432793
San Souci, Robert D. CENDRILLON: A CARIBBEAN CINDERELLA ISBN: 0689848889
A couple of books that have to do with life on a ranch:
Maclachlan, Patricia ALL THE PLACES TO LOVE ISBN: 0060210982
White, E. B. CHARLOTTE'S WEB ISBN: 0064400557
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