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Zayda Was a Cowboy

By: June Levitt Nislick

Historical Fiction

What’s a religious Russian-Jewish boy named Meyer doing in Texas? Becoming an American cowboy called Mike! Oy vey!

Winner of the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award

Ages: 9+

74 pages

Jewish Publication Society

Average Rating: (25 Ratings)

1 2 3 4 5

More for Parents

Meh

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 5/4/2020 by ReadHome727

ok book

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 3/3/2020 by intelligent2

This book was just OK

it was just ok it was not the best but it is the worst

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 12/4/2019 by anechka625

It's good.

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 12/2/2019 by videoj5

It's good.

Zayda Was A Cowboy

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 11/3/2019 by BingoMan11

I liked this book.

I learned more about Jewish history from this book.

This book is about a man who moves to the United States from Russia and starts out with hardly anything. Most people who moved went to New York, but he went to Texas. He has a farm and eventually gets more money and gets used to his new life.

not good

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 10/4/2019 by bookisyummy

This book was just OK

it was dry

AMAZING!!!!

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 10/3/2019 by momof2gals

I loved this book!

l loved this book!

AMAZING!!!!

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 10/3/2019 by momof2gals

I loved this book!

l loved this book!

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 10/2/2019 by LManS

I liked this book.

I learned more about Jewish history from this book.

I liked how Zayda worked at a ranch. I didn't know that some Jews went to Texas, when most were going to New York.

Great Book!!!!

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 9/3/2019 by SilverLakeReaders

I would read more books by this author.

I learned more about Jewish history from this book.

You should totally get it - the book was awesome, but a little sad.

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 8/6/2019 by RedStone831

Thumbs up!

This book made me think more about friendship.

A must read!!!

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 8/6/2019 by Shirah

This book is about Zayda and his story of how he came to America! I would really recommend this book.

Yeehaa Awesome

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 8/5/2019 by Swimmer99

I loved this book!

I learned more about Jewish history from this book.

Anybody who liked Rabbi Harvey and those books should definitely read this book!

it is really good

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 7/18/2019 by funsoccer

I loved this book!

This book made me think more about the importance of family.

I loved it when he became came a cowboy

gooooooooooood!!!!

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 7/3/2019 by florida

Thumbs up!

This book made me think more about friendship.

get it!###

Didn’t interest me at all

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 7/3/2019 by greengrape

This book didn’t interest me. I didn’t even read halfway before I put it down. It was boring for me.

nice read

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 7/2/2019 by msonic

I liked this book.

This book made me think more about being Jewish.

this book was great to read. knowing more about cowboys, besides the ones that you see on tv.

Pretty good book

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 7/1/2019 by Firelightningstrike

I liked this book.

This book made me think more about the importance of family.

It was good but some parts had nothing going on.

Okay i guess

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 5/10/2019 by BWLSfamily

This book was just OK

It didn't look too interesting but I still read it and it was sorta good but I think that it was bad.

too coooooollllll toooooo beeeeee truuuuu

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 5/9/2019 by ilovelego

I loved this book!

This book made me think more about being Jewish.

awesome and gnarly

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 5/8/2019 by Mountainclimber

Good luck to you all reading this book. Thanks so much mom.

it was awesome

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 5/6/2019 by killer2009

Thumbs up!

This book made me think more about being Jewish.

awesome book

adventure rox!!!!!!!

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 5/5/2019 by awesome26

sooooooooo good!

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 5/3/2019 by lovelyday

I would read more books by this author.

This book made me think more about being Jewish.

CANT PUT DOWN!!!!!!!! AMAZING!!!!!

You can’t put the book down!

1 2 3 4 5

Submitted 5/1/2019 by NationalDesignTeam

Zayda was a Cowboy has a lot of adventure and suspense. It made me think more about how America was in the late 1800s, as well as the Jewish immigrant experience. This is a really good quick read. At first, I didn't think I would like this book, but then I surprised myself. Zayda was a Cowboy is now one of my FAVORITE BOOKS! The beginning is a little sad when he has to leave his shtetl (village) in Russia, but then it gets better when he moves to America, and you don't have to like cowboys to read it.

-Elijah, National Design Team

Submit A Review

1 2 3 4 5

Review by Josh

Like Josh's video? Leave a comment on his blog post!

June Levitt Nislick never thought about publishing a children’s book until Zayda Was a Cowboy won the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award. Now she gives talks about Jewish cowboys and the Jews of Texas. A mother and grandmother, June lives with her husband in New York City.