The Cow's Boy — Charlotte Caldwell

Growing up on a working cattle ranch involves some serious responsibilities but also rough-and-tumble fun. It's a childhood connected to the natural rhythms and rewards of life on the land, surrounded by cows, pigs, chickens, and abundant wildlife. In The Cow's Boy: The Making of a Real Cowboy, Charlotte Caldwell revels in the daily life of a boy on a ranch who raises Luna, a Black Angus heifer calf. Luna's Cow's Boy feeds her and shelters her from the cold and snow. Spring eases into summer chores, driving the herd to higher pastures and moving wheel lines to water the alfalfa crop. But there's also time to ride dirt bikes and climb trees. As Luna grows, so does her boy, rising to his responsibilities and teaching kids at a riding camp how to clean and groom horses. He also learns to use a lasso, to Luna's chagrin.

Richly illustrated with 67 beautiful, action-filled full-color photographs, The Cow's Boy is instantly engaging for readers aged 7 to 9, and the charismatic Luna and her boy will charm grownups reading to younger children. Told in a warm, playful voice, the story celebrates the joys and values of a close-knit family working and playing together on their slice of ranch paradise.