Also by Aaron Reynolds: Carnivores Metal Man Buffalo Wings Pirates vs. Cowboys by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by David Barneda Grades PreK-2 40 pages Knopf March 2013 Hardcover     A mashup of cowboys and pirates sounds like every little boy’s dream come true. While Pirates vs. Cowboys is light on story it amplifies the rootin’-tootin’ silliness of languages shouted by the scourge of the sea, Burnt Beard the pirate, and the rip-roarin’ rustler Black Bob McKraw. When the octopus pirate is unable to find a place at sea to bury his treasure, he turns inland and stumbles into the Old West--right iInto a town of cow cowboys like Black Bob. Miscommunication ensues, leading the two parties to face off in a smelly mess. Reynolds sneaks in all the cliche verbiage you could ever expect from a pirate or a cowboy. It’s enough to make an adult groan, but anyone with half a sense of humor will love the irreverence and silliness of two angry tough guys swapping nonsensical insults. David Barneda’s rough-and-tumble characters pop off the dusty page with delightful characterizations and sight gags aplenty.     web reviews   Zane Ewton/2013 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)