Bubba the Cowboy Prince by Helen Ketteman

1. Bibliography
Ketteman, Helen. 1997. BUBBA THE COWBOY PRINCE: A FRACTURED TEXAS TALE. Ill. by James Warhola. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0590255061.

2. Plot Summary
Set in Texas, BUBBA THE COWBOY PRINCE is a Western version of the Cinderella story, in which Bubba works tirelessly on the family ranch while his lazy stepbrothers taunt him and boss him around. When the wealthiest ranch owner around, Miz Lurleen, throws a ball to find herself a “feller,” Bubba finds himself left out until his fairy godcow comes to his rescue. In the end, the boot fits and Bubba and Miz Lurleen ride off into the sunset.

3. Critical Analysis
Ketteman’s use of the Western motif makes this book a fun read. From setting details (“…watch out fer them cowpatties…”) to the characters’ attire (“bolo ties” and “boots”) to the dialect (“I aim to find myself a feller…”), Ketteman weaves a tale worthy of a big Texas “Yeehaw!”

James Warhola’s illustrations, done in oil on canvas, enhance the fun. The caricature-ish features of Bubba’s stepdaddy and stepbrothers, the human-like expressions of the cows and other animals, and the depth of color create a rich visual experience. To top it all off, Warhola turns the illustrations into a hidden picture game. Readers will delight in trying to find the fairy godcow in the background of almost every picture.

4. Review Excerpts
School Library Journal— “This is a fun-filled story with more hyperbole than a Christmas turkey has stuffing.”
Publisher’s Weekly—"Just the ticket for buckaroos lookin' fer a good read."

5. Connections
*Other Cinderella variants (these are just a few of dozens):

Belpre, Pura. THE RAINBOW-COLORED HORSE. Viking Press. ISBN 0723261512.

Cole, Babette. PRINCE CINDERS. Putnam Juvenile. ISBN 0698115546.

Hooks, William. MOSS GOWN. Ill. by Donald Carrick. Clarion Books. ISBN 0395547938.

Huck, Charlotte. PRINCESS FURBALL. Harper Trophy. ISBN 0688131077.

Jaffe, Nina. THE WAY MEAT LOVES SALT: A CINDERELLA STORY FROM THE JEWISH TRADITION. Ill. by Louise August. Henry Holt & Company. ISBN 0805043845.

Karlin, Barbara. CINDERELLA. Ill. by James Marshall. Trumpet Club. ISBN 0440847052.

Louie, Ai Ling. YEH SHEN: A CINDERELLA STORY FROM CHINA. Ill. by Ed Young. Putnam Juvenile. ISBN 0698113888.

Martin, Rafe. THE ROUGH FACE GIRL. Putnam Juvenile. ISBN: 0698116267.

Minard, Rosemary. “Cap o’ Rushes. ” WOMENFOLK AND FAIRY TALES. Houghton Mifflin.
ISBN 0395202760.

Phumla. NOMI AND THE MAGIC FISH: A STORY FROM AFRICA. Doubleday. ASIN
B0006CCC58.

de Regniers, Beatrice. LITTLE SISTER AND THE MONTH BROTHERS. Ill. by Margot Tomes.
Mulberry Books. ISBN 0688136338.

Steel, Flora Annie. TATTERCOATS: AN OLD ENGLISH TALE. Bradbury Press. ISBN
0878881093.

Wilson, Barbara. WISHBONES: A FOLKTALE FROM CHINA. Frances Lincoln. ISBN
1845072545.

*Students can compare and contrast the various Cinderella stories to gain an awareness of the universality of humankind while at the same learning to accept cultures different from their own.