Cowboy Dreams

Joan Buchanan is a writer, storyteller and instructor, and author of
Taking Care of My Cold.

Cowboy Dreams is immediately accessible to those who love horses and who
have ever dreamt of being a cowboy. Set in the urban 1950s and 1960s,
the story features a main character who gallops everywhere, pretends her
bike is a horse, and imagines that the mechanical horse in front of the
neighborhood store is real. Everything in the book revolves around her
desire to be a cowboy in the Wild West, and it all rings true. Although
she never gets to own a horse, she finds a solution by making one on the
basement banister. There she spends many happy hours pretending and
singing her favorite cowboy songs (which are included in the book).

Khalsa’s pictures are bold and brightly colored in the naive
tradition. In the first part of the book the details evoke city life.
The images of the West in the second half depict the protagonist as
small and alone in desert or canyon landscapes, but she does not appear
sad. Innocence and serenity stand out, creating a calming effect. In
this work, the last completed before her death, Khalsa shows her
attitude toward her impending journey in the final picture. Against a
backdrop of a rich sunset and a vibrant forest, a cowboy leads the girl
on her big toy horse with wheels off the page. She feels “as bold and
brave and free as a cowboy again. Giddiyap!”

This award-winning illustrator has produced a warm, colorful tale for
all to enjoy.