Drywater Gulch has a toad problem—the Toad brothers are a gang of ruffians who just don’t appreciate a good chili, and they’re terrorizing the town. Thank goodness for Sheriff Ryan, who knows a lot about… dinosaurs.
Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads is an upcoming picture book by Bob Shea and Lane Smith. I’ve been a fan of Lane Smith since the days of the Three Little Pigs and the Stinky Cheese Man, and I always enjoy seeing how his style is evolving. I first came across Bob Shea a few years ago with his Dinosaur vs. Bedtime, and my kids are fans of the more recent Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great. Together, they’re a force to be reckoned with.
Just like Kid Sheriff.
I got a sneak peek at the book, which will be published in October, and it’s a lot of fun. Kid Sheriff can’t ride a horse, do rope tricks, or stay up past eight, but he sure knows a T. Rex attack when he sees one. And, whaddya know, his paleontological smarts actually pay off in the end, but not in the way you might expect. Shea’s story is delightfully silly, and Smith’s illustrations perfectly capture the old-timey wild west.
Here’s what the book’s creators have to say about Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads:
I love westerns. I love shoot-outs and saloon brawls and cattle drives. This book has none of that. But it’s got a sheriff who can’t stay up past eight and some ornery bad guys who’ll insult your chili and kiss your cow. Take that, Louis L’Amour. – Lane Smith
I told Lane I was writing a western. By the time he realized it was about dinosaurs it was too late. KID SHERIFF AND THE TERRIBLE TOADS is a new take on the all too familiar tale of fear, desperation, obsession, justice and dinosaurs. – Bob Shea
Thanks to Roaring Brook Press for providing us with an exclusive look at the cover! Watch for Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads in October, or go ahead and pre-order it on Amazon today.
