Picture Book #23

Title:  Buster goes to Cowboy Camp

Author:  Denise Fleming

Illustrator: Denise Fleming

Genre:  Youth Fiction 

Subgenre:   Animal Fantasy

Themes:  dog's training camp, building relationships with other dogs, feeling homesick, learning new tricks

Primary and Secondary Characters: Buster, Betty, Brown Shoes, Red Boots, Mrs. Pink Slippers and Snarkle

Awards:  American Library Association Notable Children's Books

Date of Publication:  2008

Publishing Company:  Henry Holt and Company

Summary:

Buster is not excited to see Betty leave to the next door neighbor, Mrs. Pink Slippers.  That was always a sign to him that he would be going somewhere else soon.  As his luck would have it, Brown Shoes put him in the car and dropped him off at a strange place in the country.  Buster couldn't help but realize that this was far from home.  Someone came up to him, Red Boots, and welcomed him to "Cowboy Camp."  As Red Boots gave him the tour of the camp, Buster was sent to his bunkhouse and noticed other dogs that were also there.  The dog sleeping next to him was drooling and Buster just couldn't seem to get comfortable and was feeling homesick.  The next morning Red Boots took Buster to meet the rest of the dogs that were attending Cowboy Camp.  They played with paint, and a favorite of the veteran cowboy campers, buckaroo ball.  Buster was hesitant to play at first, but he realized he was really good at that game!  After a nice campfire meal, the dogs head back to their bunkhouses and settle in to get some rest for the next day.  Needless to say, it didn't take long for Buster to fall asleep and start snoring and drooling!

How it will be used in the classroom:
This book would be great to read to kindergartners and first graders.  At that age, they are still enjoying animal fantasy with picture books and this is a fun book that they can engage in.  I think it would be a fun lesson to tie this book with some sort of "cowboy camp" within the classroom.