Little Britches- Father and I Were Ranchers - Review

Ralph Moody was one of the last frontiersmen, with little to no formal education. As a life- long autodidact, he enrolled in a writing class at the age of 50 and was inspired to write, "Little Britches."

I'm glad he did!

The boys have read it, but this time around we read it out loud (hey, you are never too old for a Read- Aloud!). Boy-howdy, I love this book. It's a good old-fashioned, how the west was won read. There is excitement, adventure and real-life heroism involved, along with a whole lot of love and respect for the important things. The relationship between Little Britches and the Dad is central to the story, and the lessons Ralph learns at the side of his dying father are worth taking  note of. This is the kind of book that makes you laugh out-loud, get choked up, reminisce about grandparents and life when the world, or America at least, was young, and long for "simpler" times. Times when 8 year old boys learned how to stay atop bucking steeds, or ride for miles over open prairie to confess to the "local" sheriff that they came by a pheasant in a manner that might be illegal. It's a brilliant piece of Americana. A fine children's book- absolutely! A terrific historical read, full of wisdom and truth, for readers of all ages- total win!

"Any man who says the world owes him a living is dishonest. The same God that made you made this earth. And He planned it so that it would yield every single thing that the people on it need. But He was careful to plan it so that it would only yield up its wealth in exchange for the labor of man. Any man who tries to share in that wealth without contributing the work of his brain or his hands is dishonest."

"You know, a man's life is a lot like a boat. If he keeps his sail set right it doesn't make too much difference which way the wind blows or which way the current flows. If he knows where he wants to go and keeps his sail trimmed carefully he'll come into the right port. But if he forgets to watch his sail till the current catches him broadside he's pretty apt to smash up on the rocks."

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