Phoebe Clappsaddle and the Tumbleweed Gang

By Melanie Chrismer

Book Overview

Young Phoebe is raised as a Southwestern belle, which made her a genteel gal who was also a great rider and roper. One day she enters the territory rodeo to compete against the ill-mannered Tumbleweed Gang and their reign as champions is over. Clifford, Elmo, and Eustace Tumbleweed decide to get rid of sissified Phoebe Clappsaddle once and for all. But Phoebe fouls their devilish plot and teaches the boys some manners, too. Then, for a time, the desert blooms in the territory again. This thirty-two-page hardback and jacketed book is beautifully illustrated with the colors of west Texas. Illustrator Virginia Marsh Roeder uses collage effects to depict patterns from the cowboy's shirts to the diamonds on a rattlesake's back. The thirty-one illustrations complement the amusing story with delicate teasing and bristly fun to delight kids and grownups alike. Readers will enjoy the details of desert animals and faces with western character, or characters with western faces, that is. Melanie Chrismer is a fifth-generation native Houstonian who lived her elementary years in New England. She is a former newspaper stringer, who worked in libraries, schools, and bookstores while developing her writing career. Melanie, her husband, daughter, son, and schnauzer live in northwest Houston. Virginia Marsh Roeder has been an advertising artist, graphic designer, and an illustration artist. She is a retired St. John's School (Houston) art teacher. Both Ms. Chrismer and Ms. Roeder are members of the Society of Children 1/2s Book Writers and Illustrators.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 156554966X
• ISBN13: 9781565549661
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.9" x 11.3"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

What A Girl!

Phoebe Clappsaddle and the Tumbleweed Gang. Dainty, darling Phoebe Clappsaddle combines Southern manners with roping rattlesnakes. The Tumbleweed Gang drift into town and try to ruin Phoebe's flame-thrower chili and sabotage her bronco-riding. Their worst embarrassment is losing to a GIRL. Phoebe realizes these bad guys need to learn some manners, not to mention reading, writing, and arithmetic. She entices them with her hot biscuits, prickly pear marmalade and chili. But she insists they wash up for supper. Burping in public and picking teeth with a cactus needle are a sharp contrast to Phoebe's curtsying and blowing kisses to the crowd Being a fifth generation Houstonian and a descendant of the real Phoebe Clappsaddle gives Melanie Chrismer the edge on demonstrating roping tricks with her pink lasso. Virginia Roeder's spirited, clever drawings of the sashaying Phoebe and her detailed illustrations offer much to study. Readers can't resist even the evil, smirking Clilfford, Elmo and Eustace, who blew into town one day like a tumbleweed and got caught on a fence. Even the horses have unique expressions. Author Melanie Chrismer and artist Virginia Roeder are members of the Houston Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

I couldn't resist this book -- and I'm not even a little kid

Phoebe is well-mannered, feminine, and nice to everybody,nasty Tumbleweeds and all animals included, but she is most definitely not a sissy. Sure, this is a great book for girls, but I'll bet even the little boys will love it!Virginia Roeder's illustrations are priceless. They're clever, beautiful, and adorable; I'll enjoy looking at the pictures again and again, and reading the story over and over, too. I've cleared a place of honor on my bookshelf for Ms. Clappsaddle and the gang.

Phoebe Equals Fun!

This book is a must for all the young cowpokes in the family. Phoebe's outstanding rodeo talents leave the Tumbleweed Gang in an uproar; their only hope...to get even! Of course Phoebe doesn't take this lying down, but she handles it like a true lady. Chrismer is genuinely gifted in use of Texas dialect. Her characters are fun and her tall tale outrageous. Phoebe Clappsaddle is a treasured addition to my family's bookshelf.