Meanwhile Back at the Ranch

Reach for this book when your child is complaining that there is nothing to do or feeling like everyone else has a more exciting life. It is a perfect remedy for the I am bored blues, using high-spirited humor to show that excitement often happens right under our noses if we are paying attention. The story follows Elna and Hicks, a ranching couple. Hicks heads to town in search of some excitement, completely missing the fact that his ranch is suddenly becoming the site of world-shaking events, from oil strikes to visits from the President. While the setting is a traditional Western ranch, the heart of the book is about perspective and the joy of the unexpected. It is ideal for children ages 4 to 9, offering a tall-tale format that builds vocabulary through descriptive, rhythmic language. Parents will appreciate the clever irony of the parallel storylines, which encourages children to look more closely at their own surroundings with a sense of wonder and humor.