On the Trail With Miss Pace - Hardcover

This tale of a Western vacation-complete with horses, nights under the stars, and romance-may be a bit too lovey-dovey for young 'uns, but the art is A-OK. When Miss Pace, a teacher, heads west for the summer, she finds her twin students, the seemingly parentless Phil and Bill, at her dude ranch. The boys give Miss Pace no peace, following her everywhere and taking a particular interest in her friendship with cowboy Last Bob and his pinto, Handshaker. Despite a few moments of rough-and-tumble excitement, this is essentially a love story featuring Miss Pace and Last Bob. Denslow (Night Owls) leaves a number of details unexplained. After Miss Pace falls off Handshaker, she calls him a "belly bloater"; elsewhere, everyone admires an undefined "glorious borealis." But Karas's (I Know an Old Lady, reviewed Feb.13) kicky drawings, in crayony earth-tones, incorporate dried flowers, cardboard, hat and saddle trinkets, etc. Some illustrations are framed in lasso loops-unfortunately, even that inventive touch can't keep the text on track. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Kindergarten-Grade 3?Twins Phil and Bill are elated to encounter their teacher, Miss Pace, at the Wyoming dude ranch where they are vacationing. They follow her everywhere, but she takes it in good spirit, even when they discover that cowboy Last Bob is sweet on her. Miss Pace's adventures include being bucked off Last Bob's horse, enjoying the Northern lights, and smooching under the stars with her sweetheart. "It's just like the movies!" the nosy siblings say. Karas's innovative colored-pencil and collage illustrations are framed by pieces of rope, have bandanna or laid-paper backgrounds, and are adorned with dried flowers and charm-bracelet trinkets. Children who have ever wondered what happens to their teachers in the summer will love this book.?Ruth Semrau, formerly at Lovejoy School, Allen, TX
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.