The Boy Who Became Buffalo Bill: Growing Up Billy Cody in Bleeding Kansas

Gr 5–8—This biography of Buffalo Bill Cody covers the showman, scout, and hunter's life from birth to his fame as an entertainer. When Cody was seven, he and his family moved from Iowa to Kansas. He and his siblings were introduced to slavery, to which the family was opposed. By the time Cody was 12, he knew how to camp, lasso and ride wild horses, drive teams of oxen, and how to handle firearms. He also developed a deep appreciation for the clothing, music, dances, games, and martial skills of the Native American tribes. Cody saw the immense value of their sign language. From friends and relatives, he also learned the impact of a dramatic entrance or gesture. Pre-Civil War violence engulfed the Cody family, and Warren keeps readers engrossed as she describes the deadly mayhem that the newspapers labeled "Bloody Kansas." When Cody enlisted in the Union Army a week before his 18th birthday, his talents made him perfect for his role as a scout and spy. He would go on to found the traveling extravaganza Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World. Copious illustrations and photographs and thorough back matter further enhance this exciting biography.