1. BibliographyKetteman, Helen. 1997. Bubba the Cowboy Prince: A Fractured Texas Tale. Ill. by James Warhola. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0590255061
2. Plot Summary
In this fractured tale of Cinderella, Bubba lives on a ranch in Texas with his wicked stepdaddy and his “hateful and lazy stepbrothers.” Bubba does the work of three ranchhands without complaining. When the prettiest and richest woman in the county, Miz Lurleen, decides that she wants companionship, she issues an invitation to all of the ranchers in the state. Bubba spends all day getting his stepbrothers ready for the ball but does not have time to get ready himself. As he heads out to check on the herd, a thunderstorm rolls in. The thunderhead turns out to be Bubba’s fairy godcow who swishes her tail and makes Bubba “downright purty.” At the ball, Bubba dances with Miz Lurleen until the clock strikes midnight when Bubba returns to his old self, “He looked sorry, and he smelled worse.” He returns home on his cow losing one of his boots along the way. Miz Lurleen goes from ranch to ranch in search of the cowboy who left his boot behind. When Bubba tries on the boot, it fits perfectly causing Miz Lurleen to shout “You’re my prince in cowboy boots!” They ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after ranching together.
3. Critical Analysis
This Cinderella parody is untraditional in that the Cinderella character is played by an overworked cowboy, the handsome prince is “purtiest and richest gal in the county,” and the fairy godmother is a cow who swishes her tail to make wishes come true. Ketteman stays true to the plot of Cinderella by including a mean step family, a ball, the fairy godcow and her magic, the loss of the boot, and the reunited couple living happily ever after but she uses western flair through language and spelling, such as “Git them doggies along there” and “Why, you’re cute as a cow’s ear,” to establish this as a Texas tale.
Warhola’s colorful oil paintings are the perfect match to Ketteman’s narrative. The two page paintings provide a western visual that reflect the cultural aspects of the tale. Additional paintings of characters of the story are included on the copyright and dedication pages.
4. Review Excerpts
Review in Booklist: “With a male in the starring role, this charming and funny retelling may hold more appeal for young boys than the traditional version may.”
Review in Publishers Weekly: “Just the ticket for buckaroos lookin’ fer a good read.”
Review in Kirkus Reviews: “There are no surprises in this version except in the hilarious way the premise plays itself out and in Warhola’s delightful visual surprises.”
5. Connections
· Read Perrault’s original version of Cinderella and compare and contrast story elements found in Cinderella and Bubba the Cowboy Prince.
· After reading several Cinderella fractured fairy tales, have the students create their own versions, either as a class or in groups.
· Other Cinderella fractured fairy tales:
Perlman, Janet. Penguin Cinderella: Or the Little Glass Flipper. ISBN 9780140555523
Johnston, Tony. Bigfoot Cinderrrrrella. ISBN 9780698118713
Lowell, Susan. Cindy Ellen: A Wild Western Cinderella. ISBN 9780060274474
Jackson, Ellen B. Cinder Edna. ISBN 9780688162855
Minters, Frances. Cinder-Elly. ISBN 9780140561265
