Tad Lucas: Trick-Riding Rodeo Cowgirl

by Laura Edge, Stephanie Ford (Illustrator)

Overview

“A different take on women’s prowess and accomplishments that equine lovers will find appealing.” —Kirkus[green]

Texan Tad Lucas traveled the world dazzling rodeo crowds with her daring trick riding, bronc riding, and steer riding. She competed for more than 40 years and is the only woman honored by the National Rodeo Hall of Fame, the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame, and the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. In her will, she established the Tad Lucas Memorial Award to honor women who excel in any field related to Western heritage. Illustrations from cowgirl and Western artist Stephanie Ford accompany the text while sidebars provide rodeo facts.

Laura B. Edge earned a BA in education from the University of Texas at Austin. After retiring from teaching Edge jumped full-time into writing and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Stephanie Ford loves drawing horses and has done some trick riding! She is a member of the International Society of Scratchboard Artists and Women Artists of the West. Ford lives on a ranch in Texas!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781455622771
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	02/08/2017
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,121,406
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Stephanie Ford earned bachelor of arts degrees in both history and art from Stephen F. Austin State University and teaches high-school art and English. She is the illustrator of Pelican's Confederate Alphabet; Nadine, My Funny and Trusty Guide Dog; and Willy the Texas Longhorn and is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. As a historian who has adopted Civil War reenacting as a pastime, she focuses on women as active participants on the battlefield, particularly the vivandieres, or canteen keepers. She and her husband live in Texas.

Editorial Reviews

2016-12-21
A daredevil woman wins fame on the 20th-century rodeo circuit. The county fair, full of colors, vegetables, and animals, is in Nebraska, and a 14-year-old white girl named Tad rides in on a great white horse ready to race. A different challenge soon presents itself as she joins in the contest for steer riding and wins it. So begins this tale of Barbara "Tad" Barnes, who was born in Nebraska at the beginning of the 20th century. Surrounded by horses, she grew up loving to race and performed in rodeos all across the United States and Mexico, specializing in daredevil moves and trick riding, all to great acclaim and popularity. Trophies followed until an accident at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair that should have sidelined her permanently but did not. She received many honors, and her daughter established an award in her name "to honor women who excel in any field related to Western heritage." Edge writes in a breezy style that brims with admiration for her subject. Ford's colorful if stiff illustrations depict cowboys and cowgirls, almost all white, and horses galore. A lariat serves to surround and highlight text. A different take on women's prowess and accomplishments that equine lovers will find appealing. (author's note, photograph) (Picture book/biography. 6-8)

Kirkus Reviews