Genre 2: Traditional Literature

Bubba The Cowboy Prince

Ketteman, Helen. 1997. Bubba The Cowboy Prince:A Fractured Texas Tale. Ill. by James Warhola. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 0590255061.

Plot Summary

Bubba loves ranching and never complains, even though he is forced to wait hand and foot on his wicked stepdaddy and two spoiled, lazy stepbrothers. When Miz Lurleen, the "purtiest and richest gal in the county", holds a ball in hopes of finding a husband to help her with her ranch, Bubba works all day getting his stepbrothers and stepdaddy ready for the ball. At the end of the day, as the others leave for the ball, Bubba is too dirty and stinky to attend. On his way to the cow pasture, Bubba meets his fairy godcow. She uses her magic to prepare Bubba for the ball. As soon as Miz Lurleen sees Bubba she knows he is something special, but when the clock strikes twelve, Bubba turns back into his stinky, raggedy self. He makes a speedy exit, losing one of his boots in the process. Miz Lurleen searches far and wide for the lawful owner of the boot and is finally reunited with Bubba. Of course, they ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after.

Critical Analysis

In Helen Ketteman's Cinderella parody, readers are treated to a decidedly Texas flavor. Ketteman proves she is a master of using dialogue and setting to add Texas flair without sacrificing the characteristics of the traditional fairytale. Ketteman use of figurative language makes this a story that is as fun to read aloud as it is to hear.

As with the dialogue, James Warhola's illustrations are rich and energetic. Warhola uses color to convey clear character traits. The wicked stepdaddy is dark and menacing, while Bubba is wide-eyed and innocent. From the characters in the story to the cows in the pasture, the facial expressions help bring this tale to life.

Warhola uses every opportunity to bring the Texas culture to the forefront. From the longhorns and armadillos to the horseshoe fireplace, cactus hat rack, horse-head armchairs, and the Alamo bench, his illustrations are rich with Texas panache.

Review Excerpts

Publishers Weekly: "While spoofing Cinderella is not a new idea, Ketteman and Warhola's (Aunt Hilarity's Bustle) well-matched flair for hyperbole gives both the narrative and illustrations a one-two punch."

Kirkus Review: "A Cinderella parody features the off-the-wall, whang-dang Texas hyperbole of Ketteman (The Year of No More Corn, 1993, etc.) and the insouciance of Warhola, who proves himself only too capable of creating a fairy godcow; that she's so appealingly whimsical makes it easy to accept the classic tale's inversions."

Connections

Students could determine meanings of the idiomatic phrases.This could be especially meaningful for ELL students.

Students could use a character comparison graphic organizer to demonstrate understanding of character analysis.

Related Books

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe.

Lon Po Po by Ed Young

Book cover art from www.librarything.com