Uncle Bill: A Tale of Two Kids and a Cowboy (The Tumbleweed Series)

Rating:
Summary: Question and answer session
Review: In his preface, James explains that his reason for writing this book was to answer the "many questions and of the kind that's been asked of me often." Although packaged in the guise of a story, UNCLE BILL manages to be little more than a question and answer book-and only slightly more entertaining.

The premise is simple: two city children, Scootie and Kip Powers, come west to visit their cattleman uncle for a summer. Their uncle, being busy with ranch affairs, turns the kids over to an old cowpuncher known as "Uncle Bill" (no relation). Uncle Bill hauls the kids all across the range, teaching them to ride, rope, and take care of themselves. Although a few of Uncle Bill's stories are amusing, his unending instructive speeches have a decidedly didactic feel.

I rather doubt that even children would find this story entertaining.