Clarence Goes Out West & Meets a Purple Horse

February 28, 2000
Adams makes her debut with this unambiguously titled picture book, which concerns a greenhorn pig's trip to a dude ranch. Clarence decides to take a vacation "Out West," but when he arrives, he feels too shy to kick up his heels. Then he meets Smoky, a horse with a violet coat and sunset-red mane ("I will teach you to ride and wrangle and jingle your spurs on Saturday night!"). The duo kick up a high time until Smoky discloses a terrible secret: the ranch plans to sell him. Clarence comes to the rescue, and the acrylic illustrations, in desert hues of terracotta orange, turquoise and jade green, picture the soulmates' adventures thereafter. This cowboy tale bogs down in clunky dialogue, however, and ends on a peculiar note. Although the talking animal pals seem to be equals (an opening scene at the ranch shows horses and pigs relaxing together after dinner), Clarence buys Smoky and fantasizes about a rodeo act, "Clarence the Line Dancing Pig and His Famous Purple Horse Smoky." On the other hand, Adams ends in praise of companionship; a parting shot shows horse and pig, liberated from loneliness, enjoying freedom together. Ages 3-6.

June 1, 2000
K-Gr 2-Clarence is an adventurous, independent little pig who, on a vacation to a ranch, rescues a talking, dancing, mentoring purple horse from his impending "over the hill" fate. The ink-outlined drawings are filled in with bright colors to please preschoolers but the lifeless text is forced to fit the pictures. Adams's Western na f is cartoon cloying and the illustrations are cutesy snapshots rather than complements to a coherent story line.-John Sigwald, Unger Memorial Library, Plainview, TX

Copyright 2000 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2000
Ages 5^-7. After leaving his city apartment to take a trip out west, timorous tenderfoot piglet Clarence hooks up with Smoky, a friendly purple horse, who not only carries him off to scenic vistas but also introduces him to line dancing, card playing, and other cowboy pleasures. In brightly hued cartoons, Adams comically exaggerates the size difference between the two friends and has some fun with the small details--Clarence's huge suitcase is filled with snack food and hangers. In the end, after Smoky sadly lets on that he's for sale, Clarence loyally spends all his bus money to buy him, and off they trot to the big city, unconcerned that the journey may take years. Corral young readers with this, along with Sharon Phillips Denslow's tale of equally unlikely dude ranch friendship, "On the Trail with Miss Pace" (1995). ((Reviewed April 1, 2000))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2000, American Library Association.)