Father and I Were Ranchers
Ralph Moody
260pp.
Ralph Moody was eight years old in 1906 when his family moved from New Hampshire to a Colorado ranch. Through his eyes we experience the pleasures and perils of ranching there early in the twentieth century. Auctions and roundups, family picnics, irrigation wars, tornadoes and wind storms give authentic color to Little Britches. So do adventures, wonderfully told, that equip Ralph to take his father's place when it becomes necessary.
Little Britches was the literary debut of Ralph Moody, who wrote about the adventures of his family in eight glorious books. His father Charles ranks alongside Pa Ingalls as one of the most admirable men in frontier literature—competent, righteous, devoted to his family, determined to provide for them. Our family has benefited greatly from reading about his example, and Ralph's example as a dutiful, devoted, and courageous son.
Language note: The Lord's name is taken in vain in this book several times, without any negative comment from the author. In particular, the Moody's good friend and otherwise admirable neighbor Fred Autland is prone to do. When I read the book aloud, I rephrased the problem passages because I was uncomfortable repeating them. The older children are allowed to read the books themselves, because they know that it is wrong to take the Lord's name in vain, even if the author doesn't.
Some parents may choose to use these passages to raise the question of whether a superficially "good" character is actually good in the Lord's eyes. Others may prefer to avoid the problem by avoiding this book.
Related books
Other books in the Little Britches series
“Ralph Moody's books should be read aloud in every family circle in America” — Sterling North.
“[Moody] has a splendid talent for bringing the ashes of the past into life” — Chicago Sunday Tribune.
“This is a gallant book, from the first sentence until the last. It is a true story, written in the first person, written without sentimentality but with extraordinary drama.” — Christian Science Monitor.
“A most appealing book . . . Its genuineness and its simplicity will build up a large audience of enthusiastic readers.” — San Francisco Chronicle.
“You will search long . . . To find a more disarming and refreshing account of family life than Ralph Moody has set down in Little Britches.” — Chicago Sunday Tribune.
“Enthusiastically recommended for young and old.” — Library Journal.
