THE ADVENTURES OF JULES AND GERTIE

Watson’s tale of good gal Jules and her angel and polymath of a horse, Gertie, foiling bad guy Mean Bulldog Pike and his skunk of a horse, Bullet, comes with such a rush of similes that it’s likely to leave readers breathless, impressed, and mighty amused. Pike and Bullet are no-good, low-down weasels who are hoodwinking town folks into a cheap sideshow where Little Horn the little buffalo is forced to dance on hot coals. This sorry state of affairs is sending the whole town into a funk, and Little Horn is none too happy, either. When Jules and Gertie ride into town, Pike and Bullet skedaddle and Little Horn’s hooves are cooled; the two meanies plot a revenge that includes getting rid of Jules and using Gertie—who “could sing, dance, cook, make a mean cup of coffee, multiply, divide, and speak three languages”—as their new sideshow draw. Watson’s artwork has a deliberately childlike quality, with lots of scribbles and two-dimensionality, while the funny story is a Texas tornado of pure entertainment; let readers at it, have them suspend disbelief, and watch as the good “guys” win for a change. (Picture book. 5-8)