The Adventures of Jules and Gertie

""Yikki yea!"" Watson (Talking to Angels) delivers a rootin'-tootin' tale of two Wild West outlaws, a brave cowgirl and her talented horse. Mean Bulldog Pike and his horse Bullet--""two sneaky weeds""--are as nasty as their clenched-teeth grins would suggest. They rake in money by exploiting performers in a traveling sideshow. But when cowgirl Jules (""Genuine like leather. Strong like licorice"") catches wind of such cahoots, the villains' days are numbered. After some heart-pounding skirmishes, Jules and Gertie (Jules's steed, who can ""sing, dance, cook, make a mean cup of coffee, multiply, divide, and speak three languages"") land the bad guys in jail. Watson clearly relishes colorful cowboy-flavored similes and turns of phrase (""Somehow she would shuggle out of this spine-snapping spot and get her buddy back!""). The text is a mostly rowdy read-aloud, but the quirky style sometimes slows the story's pace. Watson's bold acrylics feature thick and textured paint application and comical figures with long, rubbery limbs in wildly kinetic scenes. The rich reds, oranges, yellows and browns are evocative of the hot and dusty West. Kids will tip their ten-gallons to the feisty heroine. Ages 5-8. (Sept.)