This Saturday (the 28th) at 3pm, local children’s author David Ezra Stein will give a reading of his book, Cowboy Ned and Andy.
Not only is the book a gem, but Mr. Stein promises that a delightful
time will be had by all–he’s got lots of fun stuff to do with the
kids.  Here is a brief description of the story: Cowboy Ned and
his horse, Andy, spend a hot, tiring day driving cattle.  That night,
Andy listens as Ned reveals that tomorrow is his birthday and bemoans
the fact that his family is not there to celebrate. Unable to sleep,
the horse decides that the man must have a cake and heads into the
desert to find one. After asking assistance from a singing cricket, a
wide-eyed owl, and a grouchy scorpion, Andy comes upon the lonely house
of an old cowboy. He cannot provide a cake, but he helps Andy to
realize that the best thing to have on your birthday is a friend to
share it with. As the sun rises, the horse gallops back to camp to give
Ned a birthday hug.

So
we hope you can take a moment out of your busy weekend and come and sit
and relax and listen to a wonderful story by a talented young writer.
Again, that’s this Saturday, October 28th, at 3pm….

Here is an excerpt from a review from the School Library Journal:

"Stein’s
language is simple yet expressive. The old cowboy’s voice is described
as soft, like hooves on sand, and owl wings, and the movements of dust.
These images stir the imagination and also evoke the story’s action and
setting. Done in ink and watercolor, the cartoon illustrations make the
most of the Western landscape, depicting a pale gold daytime sky, a
soothingly blue moonlit night, and a multihued sunrise. Thick lines
highlight the characters and background objects, providing contrast to
the fluid colors. Andy is the star here, and his equine features
comically convey concern, dejection, and, ultimately, happiness. A
satisfying tale of friendship."