Post by tintin on Jul 15, 2016 16:30:17 GMT 1
This is a beautifully presented book, profusely illustrated. Two illustrators were commissioned - one for the animals and one for the boys.
It is a simple straight forward story about a boy who receives a pony for his 10th birthday and of his subsequent summer holidays
It has the twist though that one of his legs is paralysed, as was the authors. There is no miracle cure, just a disability to be overcome. The book was openly intended to be inspirational, but it is not preachy or embarassing
It reminded me a lot of those thirties and forties Hollywood films that used to be shown sometimes on the BBC where quite ordinary people were inexplicably filthy rich. This family are like that. They live in a beautiful home on Long Island with gardens and staff. The boy loves to hang out around the Polo field and watch the games and one of the players gives him the retired pony - Chico. Father has a stable built and a hand tooled Mexican saddle bought "just like that"
Chico is adorable and the lad soon forms the proper relationship with his horse, which prompts Dad back into the saddle.
The book is great with relationships - father and son, younger and older brother, friends and colleagues. They are not without friction, but there is thoughtfulness and good will and it wins through.
It is a short book and a lot happens, but you are not swamped by it as in some fast paced pony books for this age group. The family go on a holiday to the mountains where there is trail riding on donkeys, camping and living off the land. The boys' guide is injured in a storm and a daring ride to the Ranger station must be made. This brings home to me the great size of America - overnight journey on the train from New York to Vermont/Maine border and an area where you can ride for two or three days in forests
My only beef with the book is that it is really two stories and could have made two good books. I wanted to see a lot more of Chico. Very unusual that all the riders, indeed all the characters except mother, are male
5 from me, illustrations and positivity lifting it from 4 where the need for more of the life of Chico and perhaps just a little more sparkle had placed it for me.
It is a simple straight forward story about a boy who receives a pony for his 10th birthday and of his subsequent summer holidays
It has the twist though that one of his legs is paralysed, as was the authors. There is no miracle cure, just a disability to be overcome. The book was openly intended to be inspirational, but it is not preachy or embarassing
It reminded me a lot of those thirties and forties Hollywood films that used to be shown sometimes on the BBC where quite ordinary people were inexplicably filthy rich. This family are like that. They live in a beautiful home on Long Island with gardens and staff. The boy loves to hang out around the Polo field and watch the games and one of the players gives him the retired pony - Chico. Father has a stable built and a hand tooled Mexican saddle bought "just like that"
Chico is adorable and the lad soon forms the proper relationship with his horse, which prompts Dad back into the saddle.
The book is great with relationships - father and son, younger and older brother, friends and colleagues. They are not without friction, but there is thoughtfulness and good will and it wins through.
It is a short book and a lot happens, but you are not swamped by it as in some fast paced pony books for this age group. The family go on a holiday to the mountains where there is trail riding on donkeys, camping and living off the land. The boys' guide is injured in a storm and a daring ride to the Ranger station must be made. This brings home to me the great size of America - overnight journey on the train from New York to Vermont/Maine border and an area where you can ride for two or three days in forests
My only beef with the book is that it is really two stories and could have made two good books. I wanted to see a lot more of Chico. Very unusual that all the riders, indeed all the characters except mother, are male
5 from me, illustrations and positivity lifting it from 4 where the need for more of the life of Chico and perhaps just a little more sparkle had placed it for me.