Bubba the Cowboy Prince: A Fractured Texas Tale

Bubba's fairy godcow swished her tail and transformed his raggedy clothes into the handsomest cowboy duds and changed a nearby steer into the most beautiful white stallion.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Ketteman, Helen. Bubba The Cowboy Prince: A Fractured Texas Tale. New York; Scholastic Press, 1997
 ISBN 0590255061

Helen Ketteman

PLOT SUMMARY:

 Bubba, the Cinderella Cowboy Prince, is pushed around and walked on at the family ranch by his hateful step-dad and his horrible step-brothers. Bubba does not complain mainly because he is a real cowboy and enjoys working the ranch.

Miz. Lurleen is lonesome and wants to find herself "a feller and it wouldn't hurt if he was cute as a cow's ear, either." She wants a true cowboy to help with her ranch. She  decides to throw a ball and send out invitations to all the ranchers in Texas.

Bubba has to help his horrible step-family prepare for the ball and when he asked if they will wait for him they laugh at him and say "You smell more like the cattle than the cattle do" and leave Bubba at behind to stay at home alone.

Luckily, Bubba's Fairy Godcow is watching over him as he rides to the pasture to check on the herd. The Fairy Godcow creates some Texas magic and Bubba and a steer are transformed. Bubba rides to the ball on his white stallion and Miz Lurleen meets the cowboy of her dreams.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

Helen Ketteman does a wonderful job with this Cinderella parody with a Texas twist. This uncommon story has all of the elements of the traditional Cinderella fairy tale. Bubba's character will give all readers enjoyment and laughs. Warhola's illustration exhibit a high quality of artwork with Texas flavor from cowboys in ten gallon Stetson hats to Miz. Lurlenn and her big Texas hair. The illustrations are colorful yet soft and whimsical with irony. The detail in each illustration is amazing -- from the wicked step-father missing various teeth to the cows under the thunder storm; which is really Bubba's fair godcow.

REVIEW EXCERPT:

Kirkus: "A fairy "godcow" comes to the aid of an overworked cowboy named Bubba, who hilariously embodies an overblown and Texas-grown Cinderella. "Appealingly whimsical, delightful visual surprises."

CONNECTIONS:

* Create a list comparing and contrasting Bubba the Cowboy Prince to Cinderella.
* Have students create their own fractured fairy tale.
* Create/continue the fairy talk of Bubba and Miz Lurleen.
* Draw a picture from their favorite part of the fairy tale.
* Read other books by Helen Ketteman.
* View and discuss other artworks by James Warhola.

James Warhola