Boss of the Plains - Softcover

Have you ever wondered where the Stetson hat got its name? John Batterson Stetson, a hatmaker from New Jersey, invented the wide-brimmed, tall-crowned, felt hat after moving west to seek his fortune during the gold rush. While he didn't find much actual gold, his invention was a veritable gold mine, as word of the Stetson (originally called the Boss of the Plains) spread like wildfire. It was the perfect hat for a cowpoke, as it shielded eyes from the sun and necks from the rain--and in a pinch could be used to carry water, fan a fire, or "impress a lady at the Saturday night dance." This attractive, Western-styled picture book tells the story of Stetson, from mild-mannered hatmaker to struggling, sunburned gold digger to the leader of a hatmaking dynasty! Author Laurie Carlson (of More than Moccasins) presents biographical and historical details in a jaunty, compelling voice, and reveals the fascinating process of hatmaking (not recommended for emotional rabbit owners!). Illustrator Holly Meade (who won a Caldecott Honor for Hush) blankets the pages with bold cutouts that embody the savory flavor of the wild American West. Cowboys and cowgirls alike will love hearing the story of how the West was won--by a hat. (Ages 4 to 8) --Brangien Davis

Grade 2-4?Usually taken for granted as a symbol of the West, the Stetson hat, or "Boss of the Plains," has finally had its story told. In a picture-book format, with fictionalized conversation, Carlson weaves a lively and information-packed narrative that will have wide appeal. Tracing John Stetson's journey from his family's East Coast hat business to Pikes Peak, CO, his inspiration in creating the first "Boss of the Plains" for his own personal use, and his eventual production and marketing of the popular hat, Carlson demonstrates a storyteller's expertise in pacing, plot-building, and dialogue. The color cut-paper illustrations convey the activity and bustle of the boom-town West. Meade's scenes include women, children, Mexicans, and African Americans in a way that portrays the diversity of the West more accurately than usual, but because of this, the absence of Native Americans (except for the distant tipis on the first page) and Asian immigrants is more noticeable. A bibliography and acknowledgments at the end reveal that this entertaining picture book is indeed a well-researched work of nonfiction, appropriate for storytelling or reports.?Nina Lindsay, Vista School, Albany, CA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.