Sam's Wild West Show

by Nancy Antle

Book Overview

Sam and his Wild West Show entertain the townsfolk and catch two bank robbers before moving on to the next town. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0141301333
• ISBN13: 9780141301334
• Release Date: July 1998
• Publisher: Puffin Books
• Length: 48 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 6 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 4

Customer Reviews

How the West was Won (Sort of)

This rootin', tootin' book combines Buffalo Bill, the Marx Brothers, and 1930's cinematic sensibilies in a lively Westerm romp for elementary school-age kids. When Sam's Wild West show arrives in town riding their buggies and wagons (with Sam in a hot air balloon!) for the locals: "A cowboy and a cowgirl traded horses while they were going very fast." "Sam ahot the tops off twelve bottles of soda pop," without breaking the bottles or spilling the soda. A Greek chorus of the mayor, the banker, and the marshall join in the applause, but the marshal talks in nonsensical non-sequitors that youngsters will enjoy (even if they don't know what a non-sequitor is): "Great riding," the mayor said. "Great," the banker agreed. "I declare!" the marshall said. Sam and his troupe ready for the grand finale when the mayor gets a telegram warning that outlaws are about to descend upon the town and ron the bank. Like the great film, "High Noon," the townspeople hide, and the marshal runs away in fear. THe mayor pins a badge on Sam, just before he and the banker hide. Who will stand up to the bad guys? Taking a clue from another film classic, "Destry Rides Again (Jimmy Stewart, Marlee Dietrich), Sam pretends to doze on the jailhouse porch, and outlaws FLo and Bo "laughed out loud when they saw the marshall asleep on the porch." But Sam--like Destry-- has two things in his favor: Skill, organization, and, no, make that three things... Skill, organization, and the element of surprise! WHn signaled by Sam, his troupe of entertainers (men and women alike) use their talents to defeat the armed foe. "Two cowboys leaned over the bank roof and ropes the outlaws' guns." "... the woman jumped from their horses onto the outlaws' horses. And Marshal Sam cracks his long whip so sharply and accurately that whips the money bagsout of the robbers' hands--and they sail right back to the bank. The non-violent talents of a well-organized bunch of entertainers defeat the robbers. But they cannot stay...they have a show to do in the next town! This is an entertaining, slightly tongue-in-cheek Wild West yarn that's well-paced, imaginative, and brighted by Simms Taback's small but colorful pictures, bursting with activity and action. Great fun to read, and perhaps even more fun to read to someone.