I Want to be a Cowgirl

by
Jeanne Willis
Illustrator: Tony Ross

The determined heroine of this magical picture book knows exactly what she wants. She rejects 'girly' behaviour, the classroom and books - and even the big city is too small for her dreams.

She yearns for the Wild, Wild West, and has the spurs and lasso to prove it. She even practises her cowgirl moves with a stray dog in the old scrapyard.

Even the view from the twentieth floor of a high-rise block can't dampen her spirits, so that, eventually, long-suffering Daddy throws off his city clothes and runs off to the Wild West too.

An irresistible rhyming text builds up to the book's liberating conclusion, and Tony Ross's illustrations are full of his trademark humour and details.

Publisher: Andersen Press

Tony Ross

Tony Ross is one of the best-known creators of picture books. He trained at the Liverpool School of Art before working as a cartoonist, a graphic designer, at an advertising agency and as a University lecturer. His most popular books include his interpretations of fairy tales, the Dr Xargle books and the much-loved Little Princess series, which has been turned into a highly successful animated television series. Tony Ross has also illustrated many children’s fiction titles and in his extremely prolific career he has illustrated more than 1200 books.
Jeanne Willis

Jeanne wrote her first book when she was five years old and hasn't stopped writing since. She now has over eighty titles to her name, including picture books, novels and television scripts. She has also won numerous awards, including the Children's Book Award, the Sheffield Children's Book Award and the Silver Smarties Prize. Her teen novel, Naked Without a Hat (Faber) was shortlisted for the Whitbread Award in 2004. She often takes inspiration from dreams and interesting conversations with strangers.

Jeanne Willis