Tex the Cowboy

I seem to recall that Tex first made his appearance in single story pocket-sized Cubs. This large format book brings together six Tex adventures told in the present tense and in comic strips and it shows just how eloquent Garland's illustrations and few words can be. First we learn how Tex, a simple, gullible cowboy, acquired his horse, the overweight, no-nonsense Gloria. Despite their unlikely appearance (Tex is puny and pink-faced with droopy red moustache and Gloria is a spotty grey carthorse) this unlikely duo then manage to outwit the evil Hank Bones time and again thanks mainly to Gloria's many talents. Simply told, these adventures are highly entertaining and will have particular appeal to individuals who are more confident reading pictures than words. Ignore the publishers age recommendation: readers need more sophistication than anyone under six is likely to have.