Title: Easy 8: The Big Event
Author: Carrolyn Foster
Publisher: Tate Pub & Enterprises LLC
ISBN: 1683529391
Pages: 28
Genre: Children’s Books
Reviewed by: Liz Konkel
Hollywood Book Reviews
Easy 8: The Big Event is a fun story for children of all ages with vibrant illustrations, humorous dialogue, and a delightful depiction of bull riding that weave in a focus on giving thanks to Mother Earth for everything she has provided.
The bulls have prepared for the last bull riding event of the season where they compete for the Bull of the Year award. The competition is fierce and each bull has a desire to win the award for themselves. The bull riding competition will be a big event that includes special performances which each of the bulls put on and begins with a special dance. The dance adds excitement to the competition and serves as a way to honor Mother Earth which includes special blankets that glow under the arena lights. This dance, which involves them moving around the arena, will pay tribute to the nourishment and contributions from Mother Earth.
The story revolves around the bull riding event and opens with the dance to honor Mother Earth which sets the tone. The poignant opening introduces the concept of Mother Earth and celebrates the beginning of all living things. All that Earth has provided is represented by each bull that participates in the dance to symbolically show their thanks. The bulls wear blankets with images that represent everything that she has given to everyone which includes light-blue earth, tree, yellow corn, fish, buffalo, silver raindrops, and the sun. Each of these elements is seen in daily life as items that nourish and provide the necessities of life which include trees for shelter, plants and crops for nourishment for all living things. Other elements featured are rivers to provide fish and clean water, wild game for food and clothing, raindrops to quench our thirst, the sun giving us the warmth that helps to grow things good and strong, and moon and stars to guide our way.
The story explores these elements that Mother Earth has given to provide balance to a story that tells how the Great Eagle glides through the sky with a mission to always watch and always protect Mother Earth. Some of the bulls featured include White Cloud, Wind Talker, Fire Walker, Rain Dancer, Red Hawk, and Mosshorn. The story is influenced by Native American culture which Foster honors through the imagery, bull riding, tone, and thanking Mother Nature. The story weaves from this big dance to scenes that showcase the various bulls in the riding event and each with a personality that adds to the lighthearted tone. The story ends on the joyous note with the Bull of the Year announced and a request to return the next year.
The illustrations are in full color with the bulls being depicted against the background of an arena that has an audience with smeared faces. While the bulls have vivid details, the audience are faceless with the focus staying on the bulls. Only the riders have a face with any attributes which supports the perspective of the story solely from the bulls’ viewpoint. This is a fun look at the bull riding event through the thoughts and perspective of the bulls which provides humor that children will enjoy. The scenes weave through each of the riding segments from the view of the bull with only their dialogue (and the storyteller’s) seen while the riders have no lines. The humans in the story are merely mentioned as nodding or with their communication referred to that doesn’t include names or voices. The scenes include commentary on their riders’ technique and is often humorous with pride when they knock their riders off.