Lovely read aloud stories... and funny, really funny
Stories of the Wild West Gang
A bumper volume of children’s stories about the hilarious, incorrigible West family by New Zealand author Joy Cowley.
Available as an ebook wherever you buy your ebooks
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Description
Stories of the Wild West Gang
Mum said she nearly died. That wasn’t true. But it was a shock for her. She and her sister didn’t get along, and here was Auntie Rosie West, Uncle Leo West and the five West children moving into the next street.
Michael’s cousins, the West family, are everything he’s not allowed to be at home. Noisy, crazy and very,
very messy.Wherever the Wild West Gang goes, adventure is not far
behind. And it’s the sort of adventure you don’t want your parents to know about.“These are delightful stories of Michael, the son of buttoned-down fun-hating parents, getting down and dirty with his mad cousins, and their devil-may-care parents. The Wests are all about old fashioned, innocent fun, their days packed with picnics and pandemonium, mud and mayhem, not a battery-operated toy or computer screen in sight. These are rollicking reads, perfect for an adult to enjoy with a child, or for newly confident readers to chortle over.”
John McIntyre, Radio NZ reviewer
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Book Details
Country of Origin New Zealand Reader Age 6-8 year, 8-12 year Book Size ISBN
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Reviews
Available worldwide from your local bookstore or online.
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The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (US), October 2012 –
As a classroom or family readaloud, this would be an absolutely stellar selection, and the page count might actually be a plus, as kids will surely keep requesting ‘just one more Wild West story.’
Kirkus Reviews (US), July 2012 –
Episodic enough to dip in and out, this New Zealand import charms in small bites.
Running Furs blog, December 2011 –
These are rollicking, fun tales of family life and kids’ antics in a real world setting. There is plenty of laughter, irreverence and hilarity.
Care Matters Magazine, December 2011 –
Wherever the Wild West Gang goes, adventure is not far behind – and it’s the sort of adventure you don’t want your parents to know about.
Courier Mail (Australia), February 2012 –
Flat-out, timeless fun. With 10 self-contained stories, and creative, real-life, outdoor adventures, this is a book readers over age 10 (and possibly boys in particular) will thoroughly enjoy… There is a good dollop of imagination and the great outdoors in each of the adventures, which is refreshing and inspiring.
Tomorrow’s Schools Today, December 2011 –
This book will be particularly popular with boys over ten. It provides great laughs for newly confident readers, although I suspect adults will enjoy reading the book to their children too.
‘Christmas gift ideas 2011’, Canvas/NZ Herald, December 2011 –
Here, beloved author Joy Cowley presents a collection of 10 adventures of Michael, the son of uber-conservative snobby parents and his cousins, the West family. These tales, originally published between 1998 and 2004, can be read as short stories or as a chapter book and will appeal to those who like mud and mayhem. Uncle Leo and Auntie Rosie are all about having fun without expensive toys. The humour throughout makes this a real page-turner.
’50 Best Children’s Books of 2011′, The Listener, December 2011 –
Only child Michael is stifled by his prim mum – until his cousins move in around the corner. Joy Cowley’s Wild West Gang was around long before Outrageous Fortune – so it’s great after many years to have an omnibus edition of Stories of the Wild West Gang, featuring the seven-strong family that creates ongoing mayhem. Classic Cowley.
Storytime Books, IndieBound blog, December 2011 –
These famously funny family stories are perfect for newly confident readers – 10 stories in all, each of them separated into chapters short enough to manage, but long enough to engage. And engage they do! Michael’s cousins, the West family, are noisy, messy and wonderfully adventurous; all the things Michael’s family is not. No wonder he craves their company – and lands himself in some seriously sticky situations!
Kate de Goldi, Good Morning TV –
Lovely read aloud stories… and funny, really funny… very good for a confident early reader, say someone around 7-8 who likes reading and is well launched on solo reading. But also a good family read aloud – I just love them. Highly recommended.
Around the Bookshops, November 2011 –
Wonderfully chunky edition and with just enough illustrations by Trevor Pye to whet the appetite without overwhelming it.
Magpies, November 2011 –
These famously funny family stories are perfect for newly confident readers – ten stories in all, each of them separated into chapters short enough to manage, but long enough to engage. And engage they do!
North and South’s ‘Best Books for Christmas’ 2011 –
Young adventurers will enjoy Joy Cowley’s 10-story collection about the wild West family.
Otago Daily Times, November 2011 –
After all the sci-fi and futuristic novels, Stories of the Wild West Gang, by New Zealander Joy Cowley, makes a welcome change … Each chapter is a mini-adventure and will delight children from about 6 to 10.
The Source, October 2011 –
One of the pleasures of this collection is seeing how Michael enjoys the freedom of life with the Wests, and learns to cope with idiosyncrasies of each of his cousins. This is an ideal book for every family that knows about peanuts up the nose and chewing gum in the sugar bowl.