Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

Widow Tulip Jones inherits a ranch in By-Golly Gully, Texas in 1870 and leaves her proper life in England to start fresh in the American West. With her servants and prize-winning tortoise by her side, she aims to transform her new 35,000-acre property into a working ranch. Mrs. Jones faces an unexpected challenge when 1,000 suitors arrive in town hoping to marry her and claim her fortune. The widow must balance managing her ranch operations while fending off the determined men who refuse to leave. Agriculture meets romance in this tall tale of the American frontier, where an enterprising woman challenges the conventions of both British society and the Wild West. The story combines Texas-sized exaggeration with themes of female independence and finding one's place in a new land.

Readers describe this tall tale as humorous and engaging for both children and adults. Parents report their kids request repeated readings and laugh at the exaggerated scenarios. Readers appreciated: - The blend of Western history with outlandish storytelling - Detailed, expressive illustrations by Kevin Hawkes - Educational elements about Texas and ranching woven into the story - Strong female protagonist who solves problems creatively Common criticisms: - Some found the storyline too far-fetched - A few noted the length might be challenging for very young children - Several mentioned the complexity of vocabulary for independent readers Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (328 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (21 ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4/5 (4 ratings) One teacher reviewer noted: "Students loved tracking the increasing numbers throughout the story and comparing the realistic versus unrealistic elements."

Calamity Jack by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale This reimagining of Jack and the Beanstalk features a Wild West setting with outlaws, giants, and an unconventional hero who must save his city.

Three Good Deeds by Vivian Vande Velde A tale of a troublemaking boy who must perform three acts of kindness to break a witch's curse combines magic with frontier life.

The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman This adventure follows a prince and his whipping boy through escapades with outlaws, rats, and highwaymen in a story of mistaken identities.

The McBroom Tales by Sid Fleischman A collection of tall tales chronicles the frontier adventures of Josh McBroom and his family on their magical acre of farmland.

The Ballad of Lucy Whipple by Karen Cushman A story set in Gold Rush California follows a girl who must adapt to frontier life while running her family's boarding house.

🌟 Author Anne Isaacs grew up listening to tall tales from her grandfather, inspiring her love of American folk stories and exaggerated storytelling. 🐎 The book's main character, Widow Tulip Jones, brings 1,000 tortoises to her Texas ranch - a nod to the real practice of tortoise ranching that occurred in the American Southwest in the early 1900s. 💫 The story takes place in 1870 in By-Golly Gully, Texas - a time when the state was experiencing a significant population boom due to cattle ranching and railroad expansion. 🌵 The illustrator, Kevin Hawkes, spent time in Texas researching the landscape and architecture to create authentic-looking artwork for the book. 👒 The book playfully subverts traditional Western genre tropes by featuring a wealthy widow from England who outsmarts 1,000 suitors and becomes a successful rancher on her own terms.