NELLIE AND THE BANDIT

In Ross’s sophomore effort, a young girl sets off to find her father, the sheriff, when she learns that the baddest bandit around has just escaped from jail. Kono’s full-bleed illustration shows the spunky, spindly-legged heroine hightailing it up the long and winding road toward Cripple Creek Gold Mine, which is where her father is and the place she fears the bandit will strike. On the horizon, Desperado Dan lurks behind a tree. Soon, the two meet up, and Nellie outsmarts the outlaw, leading him right where she wants him. Readers will delight in Nellie’s deception and in Ross’s spot-on Old-West lingo that makes this story a terrific read-aloud. Kono’s lively illustrations capture the spirit of frontier life and include African-American and Asian characters. (Picture book. 4-8)