“The Gingerbread Cowboy”
by Janet Squires

Cowboys and cowgirls, you are in for a great time
with this hilarious version of “The Gingerbread Boy.”
This one has boots, a ten-gallon hat, and a 
rip-roarin’ attitude. 

Instead of running from farm animals, this spunky
little guy runs through the desert, away from a 
roadrunner, a band of javelinas, a herd of long-horned
cattle, and some hungry cowboys. Then he meets – 
ruh-roh – the coyote. The Gingerbread Cowboy is 
feisty, but he’s not too bright. He lets himself be fooled 
by the sly coyote, who offers him a ride across the
river (oddly, the Gingerbread Cowboy can run, but
can’t swim), only to eat up our endearing, yet yummy
protagonist. But don’t worry – the last page shows
the coyote helping the original bakers make another
batch.

Of course, I use the “I’ll run and run as fast as I can,
you can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man” song,
but here’s my secret ingredient – I add a “Yee-Haw!”
at the end of the song. Young children LOVE to say 
“Yee-Haw!”

My only problem with this book is the couple at the 
beginning, who are introduced as “the rancher” and
“the rancher’s wife.” I don’t like any woman to be
identified as “someone’s wife,” so I change this to
“a cowboy” and “a cowgirl.” Also, it would be nice 
to see the cowBOY being the baker, instead of the
woman. Why can’t she be the one to saddle the
horses?

Aside from that, I absolutely love this charming
and funny book and highly recommend it. Yee-Haw!