Really not sure why, but this school year has been a plunging, twisting, gut wrenching, bone shaking, wild ride! It seems only right, then, to share COWBOY UP: RIDE THE NAVAJO RODEO by Nancy Bo Flood, photographs by Jan Sonnenmair for Poetry Friday. COWBOY UP is a CYBILS nonfiction nominee. It's a great candidate, plumb filled with facts about the rodeo and gorgeous photographs of Navajo cowboys and cowgirls of all ages.
COWBOY UP could have also been a poetry nominee, however, because each two-page spread, includes not only a paragraph or two of information, but also a poem, told from the point of view of a young Navajo rodeo contestant. The poems are lots of fun- the kind you want to roll around in your mouth and just simply enjoy reading and rereading, and Jan Sonnenmair's photography is well, just about perfect!
Rodeo Rider
I want to be a rodeo rider--
a barrel racing,
crazy bull chasing,
lasso slinging,
wild calf roping,
bronco busting,
mutton tumbling
rodeo rider.
Nancy Bo Flood
"Bareback Bull Rider:
Big Brahama bull
stands square,
glares.
Big Brahma bull,
head down,
horns able
to rip a rider wide apart.
Big Brahma bull,
hooves scraping dirt,
blocks of muscle
waiting to explode
out the chute.
Big Brahma bull.
My turn to ride.
Nancy Bo Flood
Mosey on over to Merely Day by Day, where Cathy is rounding up a whole lot more poetry.
Carol,
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to check out this book! Thanks for sharing it with us. Love the language in the poetry. It seems like it would be fun to read aloud. I am looking forward to seeing the photos as well.
Stopping by your corner always makes me smile.
Cathy
Looks like a fun book! Thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteIt does sound like a fun book, as Ruth noted. I shall have to check this one out. Thank you for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteI have this book and have read about half, Carol. I agree that it's very fun, and filled with interesting and exciting information too!
ReplyDeleteI love when a book sends out a whole herd of messages to its audience: about culture, differences and similarities; history and geography; language, vocabulary, craft. This one sounds like a winner. I hope your rodeo ride at school settles down into a more comfortable trot soon!
ReplyDeleteI love this book! I'm glad it got a nomination, whether for NF or Poetry! Maybe there should be an Interesting Mash-Up category!
ReplyDeleteThanks for bringing this book to my attention, Carol. I'd like to check it out - sounds interesting!
ReplyDeleteI love the energy of this poem - now I need to get this book! Thanks for sharing, Carol.
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