Module 12

Module 12
April 12-18

Bill Pickett: Rodeo Ridin' Cowboy
By Andrea D. Pinkney

Pinkney, Andrea D. Bill Pickett: Rodeo Ridin' Cowboy. Guilliver Books. 1996: ISBN: 0152021035

Synopsis:
Bill Pickett was born the second-oldest child of former slaves, who lived north of Austin, Texas. Fascinated with cowboys, Pickett invented the sport of bulldoggin’ at a young age. Pickett grew up to work as a ranch hand and then began his career at the rodeo. He became known as the Dusky Demon, and everyone wanted to see him bulldoggin’. He eventually retired from rodeo life and worked simply as a ranch hand at the 101 Ranch. He helped to make calf-roping the sport that it is today.

My View of the World:
This is a wonderful book with excellent illustrations. This tells the story of Bill Pickett, who was one of the first famous African American cowboys. Son of freed slaves, Pickett invented the sport of bulldoggin or calf-roping at the rodeo. This book tells an interesting piece of history of which many children are not aware. Pickett is not very well-known now but has left his mark, particularly in Texas history. This should be fascinating for children.

Book Reviews:

Bill Pickett, one of 13 children born to parents who were freed slaves, grew up in Texas watching the cowboys drive cattle along the Chisholm Trail. Observing a bulldog manage a cow by biting and holding on to the beast's lip, young Bill discovered he could do the same thing. He became an accomplished horseman with a range of tricks, but it was "bull-doggin'" that brought the crowds to their feet throughout his long career. The story is told with verve, relish, and just enough of a cowboy twang, with Pinkney giving an excellent overview of the history of rodeos and black cowboys in a closing note. Husband Brian Pinkney's pictures, in his typical scratchboard technique, are well suited to the story, their lines and colors swirling with movement and excitement on the deep black surface. --Susan Dove Lempke. November 1, 1996. Booklist.

Bill Pickett was a rodeo cowboy in the days when black men were not allowed to do much of anything that wasn't menial or demeaning. Pickett, however, followed his dream. As a young boy, he would watch cowboys herd cattle past his parents' farm and dream of becoming a cowboy. One day, Bill helped some cowboys bulldog a calf they were having trouble branding. They were suitably impressed with his skills, and there was no stopping him after that. By the age of 15, he had left home to work on ranches throughout Texas. His fame grew steadily, and eventually he was offered a job in a rodeo. After just a few years, he was famous throughout the country, even riding in Mexico, South America, and England. His fame not only helped popularize rodeo, but helped to give attention to a black man in a very racist time. This is a brilliantly done tribute to an unjustly forgotten pioneer. The text is fascinating, and the oil paintings on scratchboard are full of energy and motion, matching the book's powerful mood. A wonderful choice for any collection. Melissa Hudak. October 1, 1996. School Library Journal.

In My World:
This book would be wonderful as a read aloud. It could prompt conversation about Reconstruction and what it was like in Texas versus the rest of the United States. It could also be used in February with Black History Month. It could also be used to open a unit on slavery and what life was like after it was abolished in the United States.