James Rice 
Cowboy Rodeo [PDF ebook] 

Texas Jack, the long-eared jackrabbit, tells the story of how rodeos came about in this full-color book by author/illustrator James Rice. In this tale young readers learn about the three R’s: "ropin‘, ridin‘, and rasslin‘." Rodeo got its start in the days of roundups and big cattle drives. Cowboy Rodeo tells about life on the trail and how roping calves, bareback riding, and bulldogging became rodeo events. Using colorful Southwestern cowboy vernacular, Texas Jack explains the hard-working, competitive lifestyle of cowboys and how rodeos allowed them to test their skills or simply prove their toughness.James Rice’s lively illustrations make this a beautiful as well as educational addition to any child’s library. Though intended for children, his work has a sizable following among grown-ups as well. James Rice is widely recognized as the South’s leading author/illustrator of children’s books.