Product Description

Farethee Well is a woman of strong mind and bodacious body. But when suitors come to ask for her hand in marriage, can she tell a real cowboy from a fake? "Johnston's clever parody of The Princess and the Pea is rich with the language and details of the Wild West . . . a great choice for read-aloud."-- Booklist. Full color.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #213580 in Books
• Published on: 1996-04-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780698113565
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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From Publishers Weekly
This vivacious picture book gives an engaging Western slant to the familiar tale of "The Princess and the Pea." When Farethee Well, "a young woman of bodacious beauty," inherits her father's considerable estate, a parade of men seek the comely lass's hand in marriage. But the savvy Texan has a foolproof method for screening her suitors--she places a black-eyed pea beneath each man's saddle blanket, knowing that a true cowboy, sensing such an irritant, will "bruise like the petals of a desert rose." Colorful lingo associated with the Lone Star state peppers Johnston's clever retelling. Ludwig's pencil and watercolor illustrations are serviceable but undistinguished. His human faces exhibit a range of appropriate emotions, but the renderings of horse and cattle seem overly cute, and commercial, and the palette is occasionally muddy. The quirky change of setting and the strong female protagonist, however, prove entertaining. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-- This excellent retelling of Andersen's ``The Princess and the Pea'' has several unique elements. There is a reversal of sex roles, and the setting is the old West in Texas. Upon her father's death, Farethee Well inherits his herd of cattle, his horses, and his land. Before he dies, he tells her that many men will propose marriage because of her wealth; however, she should look for one who will love her for herself and also for a real cowboy. The young woman remembers her father saying that real cowboys are sensitive, so she places a black-eyed pea under the suitor's saddle blankets and asks him to ride around her ranch. Several are declared fake cowboys. During a rainstorm, a young man appears who is obviously disturbed by the pea, and Farethee Well marries him. Ludwig's illustrations are realistic but humorous, and the story is well suited for reading or telling aloud. While Galdone's The Princess and the Pea (Seabury, 1978) is one of the best versions published, Johnston's is by far the most original to come along in the past few years. --Andrew W. Hunter, Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg, Charlotte, NC
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

This book is an excellent storybook for young children.
The daughter of a wealthy Texas rancher, Farethee Well, uses a black-eyed pea to find her true love. This story is an excellent read-to-me book for children ages 4-9. The story is a parody of the fairy tale, Princess and the Pea. It is full of the language of the West and invites both boys and girls into the story for a lively tale.

Not Logical But Cute
If a person put a pea under a saddle blanket on a horse the cowboy would not feel it - the horse would and would soon be bucking or have a massive back ache. For this reason it is obvious that the author has no clue about riding or horses in general. Regardless, the story and illustrations are cute with bright colorful pictures and humorous faces on the characters.