The Horned Toad Prince

In this hilarious spin on a classic fairy tale, a spunky cowgirl finds herself in a mess of trouble and is forced to strike a deal with a horned toad. Reba Jo loves riding all over the wild prairie and roping any critter unlucky enough to cross her path. But when her luck turns sour, she has to work with a horned toad to save her own hide. Reba Jo tries her darnedest to weasel out of her part of the bargain, but the clever horned toad won’t let her off the hook. In the end, she learns that a promise is a promise and words once spoken are not easily taken back. Jackie Mims Hopkins’s sizzling southwestern retelling of the fairy tale “The Frog Prince” is complemented by Michael Austin’s vibrant, distinctive illustrations, which colorfully transport young readers to the untamed, dusty prairie.