By Bob Shea and Lane Smith
Can I just say, to me, this is one of the funniest and best books this year. I can see why it was praised at our last training meeting. But with the combination of Bob Shea and Lane Smith, well you just can’t go wrong. Kid Sheriff, who “may not know much about shooting and roping,” rides into town on a tortoise. The town mayor tells him about the problems the Terrible Toad bandits have caused. Kid, “who does have a knowledge of paleontology,” convinces the town that dinosaurs have caused the trouble not those outlaws. Not getting credit for their dastardly deeds, the Terrible Toads get mighty angry and prove to Kid Sheriff they are the REAL criminals. And where they wind up causes the Toads to say, “Dang it!” “I’m powerful sorry,” but not wanting to spoil all the fun of this story, I hope you will read what happens. This is one “hootin’, hollerin’, darn tootin'” picture book with scene stealin’ illustrations perfectly colored in shades of brown and white for an Old West feel. And with words like “diney-o-saur” and “kissin'” and “disgustin'” and other “ins'” instead of “ings” it just lends itself to be read with a western accent, I loved this book!
Review by Renee Larsen, Hillside Elementary Media Center
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Interest Level: K-3
Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads
By Bob Shea and Lane Smith
Roaring Brook Press
32 pages
Release Date: October 7, 2014
ISBN: 9781596439757 (hardcover)
I also thought that this was one of the funniest books from 2014! I loved the Kid Sheriff SLOWLY riding in on a tortoise and the text that accompanied it, and how well that the text and illustrations worked together to create that moment and many other moments of humor.