Tales from Dust River Gulch by Time Davis (1996)

Over the past few years, we’ve read a number of books published by JourneyForth Press (formerly BJU Press). We’ve especially loved the Derwood series by Jeri Massi and the missionary stories like These Are My People by Mildred T. Howard. Of all the books we’ve read, though, none have been as creative as this one by Tim Davis, Tales from Dust River Gulch.

Perhaps my favorite aspect of this collection was how these six inventive stories made me sound as I read them aloud to my kids. I mean, Davis’ writing made me feel like a real-life, rootin’ tootin’ cowboy—and don’t you fer-git it! I had so much fun reading the stories in fact that the plots themselves didn’t even have to be all that great for us to enjoy them. But even so, the plots were pretty great too!

Dust River Gulch is a town out there yonder into the Western parts of the country, peopled by animals with big personalities and even bigger problems. Sheriff J.D. is the Mustang who seeks to keep the peace in town, despite the occasional entrance of rowdy, up-to-no-good characters like Gruffle O’Buffalo, Billy the Kid, and Doc Hardly. J.D.’s romantic interest in Miss Rosie of Rosie’s Café keeps things interesting whenever he’s not fighting crime (and sometimes when he is), and there are enough other characters to keep this old man’s voice ever-adapting as well.

Each of the stories contains a moral or two, making this a decent book for parents or teachers to read and discuss, but there’s nothing overtly Christian about it otherwise. It’s just good clean fun, and I think Tim Davis deserves a wider audience than just the homeschoolers and Christian schools that know about his books. Not sure how a marketing campaign for a book nearly 30 years old would go, but hey. The idea’s worth mentioning.

I do strongly believe that this book is best enjoyed when read aloud. There are just too many oddly spelled words for kids to stumble over on their own, and if they don’t get the accented spelling, then they might not fully understand the stories. Just bear that in mind. In fact, I read aloud one of the chapters from this book as a sleep-over read several months ago when my kids had some younger friends spend the night. They all loved it so much that I’m actually keeping its sequel in the wings for next time as well. Just in case.

The suggested age range for this book is 9-12 years old, and I’d say that 12 really is the limit. Because I read this to my kids several months ago when my son was still 12, I’m not surprised that he really enjoyed it. But he’s maturing quickly, and I think that (for the next several years at least) he’s ready to put away some childish things—for example, he’s just loving the 1932 edition of King Kong that I’m reading to them right now (my 11yo daughter not as much).

Overall, Tales from Dust River Gulch was a super fun read, and I hope that author Tim Davis gets the acclaim he deserves for such a creative book. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel, More Tales from Dust River Gulch (2002)…if we can organize some sleepovers before the move!

©2024 E.T.

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Read More from JourneyForth Press:

• With Wings as Eagles by William Pinkston (1983)
• These Are My People by Mildred T. Howard (1984)
• Medallion by Dawn L. Watkins (1985)
• Derwood, Inc. by Jerri Massi (1986)
• A Dangerous Game by Jerri Massi (1986)
• Treasure in the Yukon by Jerri Massi (1986)
• With Daring Faith by Rebecca Henry Davis (1987)
• Courage by Darkness by Jerri Massi (1987)
• Some Summer! by Jean Vandervenne (1987)
• Llamas on the Loose by Jerri Massi (1988)
• The Runaway Princess by Milly Howard (1988)
• Abandoned by Jerri Massi (1989)
• A Question of Yams by Gloria Repp (1992)
• Brill of Exitorn by Peggy Downing (1994)
• Peanut Butter Friends in a Chop Suey World by Deb Brammer (1994)
• The Lost Prince by Peggy Downing (1995)
• Tales from Dust River Gulch by Tim Davis (1996)
• Camp Sierra Secret by Esther G. Wilkinson (1996)
• Chickadee Winter by Dawn L. Watkins (1999)
• Songbird by Nancy Lohr (2000)
• Nix by Penny McKnight (2006)
• Shield by Dawn Watkins (2008)