Skip and Joe — Beth Brown

Skip and Joe are young prairie dog brothers who love to play at being cowboys. They have cowboy boots, hats, and vests. They know how to twirl rope lassos and enjoy pretending that they are roping cows. Skip and Joe also know that there are certain animals on the prairie that they should avoid, such as snakes and hawks-animals who would enjoy making a meal out of them. And then one day they encounter a situation that could use their unique cowboy skills but could also put them in great danger. Hank the Hawk is going after Rita Rattlesnake's babies, thinking they would be fun to take. Should the prairie dog cowboys help the snake family, or should they avoid danger and let Rita save her babies on her own? In this children's story, a pair of prairie dog brothers must decide whether to risk helping rattlesnake babies in danger when they might be at risk themselves.