Little Arliss (1978) is the third book centered on the Coates family of frontier Texas by Fred Gipson.

It follows Old Yeller (1956) and Savage Sam (1962), and focuses on Little Arliss, the youngest member of the family.

[1] Rock-throwing Little Arliss Coates is now twelve years old and tired of his nickname and the condescension of adults.

Little Arliss chafes at having to attend school, and constantly gets into trouble with his teacher, whom he derisively calls "Old Hoot Owl".

Approaching the encampment, he befriends Judy Sanders, also about twelve, an orphan traveling with her uncle and aunt, and they decide to attempt to catch an "outlaw" horse that roams the territory—one which has eluded capture by Jim Coates (Arliss' Papa), Burn Sanderson (original owner of "Old Yeller"), Bud Searcy, Wiley Crouch, and other men.