Diamond Jim Dandy and the Sheriff »

When a snake slithers into the sleepy town of Dustpan, Texas, the sheriff knows for darned sure that it shouldn’t be allowed to stay—even if it’s really a friendly kind of rattler. No matter if the neighborly reptile has managed to charm the customers at the local restaurant, entertain the Ladies Sewing and join the kids for playtime. After all, that’s the law of the west: NO RATTLESNAKES!

But when little Idie Mae Tumbleweed crawls her way over to dangerous Deadman’s Gulch, the rattler proves he’s one jim-dandy hero.

Author Sarah Burell and illustrator Bryan Langdo have whipped up one very funny wild-west tale with a unique new star.

Publishers Weekly

“Nothing exciting ever happened in Dustpan, Texas,” opens this folksy tale by newcomer Burell. Things are so dull that “kids drifted off in school and drooled all over their books” and the idle sheriff baby-sits to pass the time. When a smiling rattlesnake slithers into town, the sheriff concedes that it seems like “a neighborly sort of snake,” yet announces, “you're not welcome here, pardner.” Paying no heed, the reptile proceeds to entertain the residents, performing tricks and playing with the kids. Annoyed to be proved wrong, the sheriff is ready to escort the snake out of town when he realizes that Ida Mae, the young'un he was babysitting, has disappeared. It comes as no surprise that the snake saves the baby, who's perched perilously on the edge of Deadman's Gulch. Langdo's (Pastry School in Paris) chipper, homespun cartoons bring additional comedic dimension—particularly enjoyable are scenes of Ida Mae scribbling away on “Wanted” posters and of the snake giving babies a snakeyback ride. The sheriff is never very convincing as a gruff hard-liner, nor is his conversion ever in doubt. Ages 4-7. (Apr.)