Slingshot and Burp

by Richard Haynes, Stephen Gilpin (Illustrator)

Overview

Yippee-ki-yay! Saddle up and hit the dusty trail with the wildest bike-ridin’ kid cowboys west of the Mississippi!

Slingshot and Burp—two pea-shootin’, slingshot-totin’ cowhands on two wheels—are on the lookout for action. Bleached bones? Bring ’em on! Lost outlaws? Let’s go! Hidden loot? Yee haw! Rattlesnakes! Scorpions! Ghost cats!Wait, what . . .? Whoa! Saddled up to battle the boredom of summer, these two double cousins, best friends, and next-door neighbors have fitted themselves out like Old West cowboys to charge boldly (and sometimes bravely) into the southwestern desert that is their backyard. And sure enough, in two rattles of a snake’s tail, the boys find themselves boots-deep in adventure, dodging sisters, jail time, coyotes, and squirting skulls! Boll weevil!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763670764
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	08/02/2016
Pages:	112
Product dimensions:	5.75(w) x 8.06(h) x 0.58(d)
Lexile:	610L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Richard Haynes grew up on a farm in Pennsylvania, one of nine children. Every day of his boyhood was filled with adventure and not a few battles with sisters and brothers over territory. Slingshot and Burp is his first book for children. He lives in northern California with his wife, writer Megan McDonald.

Stephen Gilpin has illustrated more than thirty books for children, including the Who Shrunk Daniel Funk? books by Lin Oliver. Stephen Gilpin lives in Kansas.

Editorial Reviews

08/01/2016
Over 10 lively chapters, first-time author Haynes unspools the story of cousins Slingshot and Burp, two cowboys-in-training armed with bicycle steeds, spitballs, red crayon brands, and an abundance of Wild West lingo. “Boll weevil!” cries Slingshot during one of their escapades. “My mouth is as dry as a dust devil.” Antagonistic older sisters, a blood-spitting lizard, and a legendary “Ghost Cat” all factor in to the boys’ adventures, which both Haynes and Gilpin paint as larger-than-life, even if real life occasionally intrudes (“Two lousy days in lockup,” is Slingshot’s response to getting grounded). It’s a boisterous tale that speaks to long summer days of (mostly) unfettered freedom. Ages 6–9. Illustrator’s agency: Shannon Associates. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

Haynes keeps the action zipping along with his boys, who adopt the cowboy lifestyle as much as their parents will allow. He plays with expectations; readers convinced that the adventures are all in the boys' imaginations will reconsider after Burp finds a real scorpion in his boot. Gilpin's lively line drawings add plenty of character to the book...Active and entertaining, with a mid-20th-century feel.
—Kirkus Reviews

Lively illustrations help highlight the action of each chapter. Recommended as an additional purchase for libraries looking to increase their early chapter book collections and for those with a particular interest in cowboy stories.
—School Library Journal

Hayne’s episodic chapters gallop along as the intrepid amateur cowpokes explore the desert, find a (sort of) haunted skull, and rescue a dog they’re sure is part coyote. Gilpin’s cartoonish line drawings help bring the Wild West antics (many of which are imaginary) to life. Lasso-swinging, spur-wearing wannabe kiddie cowboys will be tickled.
—Booklist

Antagonistic older sisters, a blood-spitting lizard, and a legendary “Ghost Cat” all factor in to the boys’ adventures, which both Haynes and Gilpin paint as larger-than-life, even if real life occasionally intrudes (“Two lousy days in lockup,” is Slingshot’s response to getting grounded). It’s a boisterous tale that speaks to long summer days of (mostly) unfettered freedom.
—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

06/01/2016
Gr 1–3—Slingshot and Burp are best friends, neighbors, cousins, and cowboy enthusiasts. As if sent to ruin their plans, the boy's older sisters glam up (and pup up) the quartet's "shared" clubhouse for a dog-sitting business. When one of the dogs sneaks out to join the boys sleeping under the stars, Slingshot and Burp end up on a late night search-and-rescue mission into a creepy, possibly haunted boneyard. This title is complete with cowboy slang and some wild adventures, and young cowpokes will be delighted and inspired by the high jinks of Slingshot and Burp. While the two title characters are developed as a pair, and their relationship as best friends, neighbors, cousins, and even blood brothers is well established, they aren't distinguishable from each other, nor are their sisters. The only other character is Big Jim, who runs a local coffee shop and is shown briefly to set the boys on their adventure. Lively illustrations help highlight the action of each chapter. VERDICT Recommended as an additional purchase for libraries looking to increase their early chapter book collections and for those with a particular interest in cowboy stories.—Shana Morales, Windsor Public Library, CT

School Library Journal

2016-05-04
Two rough and tough wannabe cowboys have some adventures while trying to avoid their sisters.Their "horses" are actually bikes, but that doesn't stop Slingshot and Burp from pursuing cowboy adventures out there in the dangerous Boneyard, after they get away from fire hydrants and mailboxes. Their buddy Big Jim, proprietor of the Boots and Saddle Tack Shop, informs them that there might be treasure in the scorpion-infested wilderness, but the terrible Ghost Cat also lurks in the area and might eat them alive! The two white boys bravely venture forth anyway, returning to find their bunkhouse taken over by their big sisters: there's pink everywhere! After some jail time for shooting up their sisters' dolls, the boys are back in action, back at odds with their sisters, and back in the wilderness. Haynes keeps the action zipping along with his boys, who adopt the cowboy lifestyle as much as their parents will allow. He plays with expectations; readers convinced that the adventures are all in the boys' imaginations will reconsider after Burp finds a real scorpion in his boot. Gilpin's lively line drawings add plenty of character to the book. The author doesn't push morality or significantly attempt to subvert gender stereotypes, just penning a fun, vigorous adventure for his two hyperactive boys.Active and entertaining, with a mid-20th-century feel. (Adventure. 6-9)

Kirkus Reviews