tara recommends Let's Sing A Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas

We all have guilty pleasures, right? Mine include watching old black and white movies late at night and reading children’s books (even if my children aren’t around) - some things just inherently make me happy. 

Jan Thomas writes picture books that easily speak to children with her bright pictures and comedic story lines. I would classify them as a child’s guilty pleasure. Perhaps they are not the most sophisticated tale, or even the most detailed artwork - but, somehow when it comes together, it always elicits a cheerful giggle. 

I have to thank Betsy Bird (A Fuse 8 Production) for introducing me to Jan Thomas with her reading of Rhyming Dust Bunnies. You can check it out here: Rhyming Dust Bunnies. This is a book I may never have picked off the shelf, but is a sure favorite with any young child. Who could resist cute, fluffy dust bunnies that play rhyming games? 

Since then, we have expanded our Jan Thomas library by adding The Doghouse and Let’s Sing A Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy (released September 2012). Both have been instant hits. These books all have a similar feel to them, yet work on their own merits. 


Let’s Sing A Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy is a story about a slightly fearful cowboy and his attempts to sing his cows to sleep. Of course, things don’t go smoothly, as he is afraid of objects that are not at all scary, like a flower and a stick. The pages are perfectly ordered to build the suspense and keep you involved and as an added bonus, the story is enhanced by listening to the cowboy sing his lullaby at www.janthomasbooks.com. The bright, solid colors outlined with a thick black line illustrate the story in a way that instantly screams “preschool.” The characters are big and graphic, and perfect for story time.

Let's Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy
by Jan Thomas
Published by Beach Lane Books (September 2012)