Sky & Ty: Howdy, Partner! by Steve Breen

Sky & Ty: Howdy, Partner! by Steve Breen. Pixel + Ink, 2024. 9781645952145






Rating:  1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4.5



Format : Hardcover graphic novel



Genre : Western



What did you like about the book?  Sky, a small eight year old Black girl with a big blue cowboy hat, really wants a dinosaur. And then she meets one. Ty is nothing like the ferocious beast she had envisioned, but when Ty is able to save a bunny from a bear by having a dance-off, Sky knows that Ty is her kind of pet. Actually, he’s a pal.



I don’t get to review too many children’s westerns, but this a really funny, engaging one that turns the genre on its side. A girl and a dinosaur are paired up to gently solve mysteries and problems in the (somewhat) old west, complete with cowboy slang. Luckily there’s a short illustrated section on how “to speak western.” Large panels and bold print in a blue, brown and black palette make the action feel immediate. Kids will love this short reader with chapters and lots of heart. It’s the start of a new series.



Anything you didn’t like about it? No



To whom would you recommend this book?  Fans of funny, easy graphic novels like Ben Clanton’s Narwhal and Jelly series will enjoy this.



Who should buy this book?  Elementary school and public libraries



Where would you shelve it?  Graphic novels



Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? Near the top



Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City and State: Stephanie Tournas, Robbins Library, Arlington, MA



Date of review:  April 3, 2024