Picture Books::The Pony Express, A Fire Horse, And Japan

I know those few who regularly read my blog will find this hard to believe, but I have two more horse books to share with you!! I knew you'd be excited.

Magnus at the Fire by Jennifer Armstrong-

I was strolling through a hand-crafters boutique when a book with a picture of a magnificent looking horse appeared on a shelf right in front of me. I have no idea what a shelf of used books was doing there, but I snagged the book and it has been a favorite in our home since.

Magnus at the Fire

Magnus, the fire horse, is forced into retirement with the invention of the much more economical self-propelled fire engines (1906). Much to the fire department's dismay, Magnus is constantly arriving on the scene of the fire and getting in the way.  In true storybook fashion, eventually Magnus is there at the right time and saves the day.

While I am not sure that the story of Magnus is a 100% true, it is based in historical fact. The author mentions in a note to the reader- "these heroic horses almost always found wonderful new homes and jobs. And history is littered with accounts of these fine, stalwart horses whisking their new, often unsuspecting owners to the fires whenever they heard the clanging from the top of the firehouse calling them to duty".


They're Off! The Story of The Pony Express by Cheryl Harness-

The story of the pony express "is one that would catch the public's imagination. Fast. Exciting. Death-defying". This detailed account of the Pony Express includes the financial woes of the company that ran the system, the hardships and adventures of the riders and their horses, and the political climate that this all took place in. The visual impact of the book is what really sets it apart. Maps, diagrams, sidebar notes, and illustrations packed with energy drew my boys in. We read through this book once, but we will need to read it through many more times to capture all the detail.
They're Off! : The Story of the Pony Express


There is a horse mentioned in the next one, but is not about a horse. ;)


This astounding book begins-
"No Japanese ship or boat...nor any native of Japan, shall presume to go out of the country; whose acts contrary to this shall die."-Tokugawa Shogunate pronouncement, 1638

When Manjiro, a 14 year old boy, is shipwrecked, he faces the very real possibility that he will be killed upon his return home. But that is just the half of it. Rescued by an American ship after six months stranded on an island, Manjiro and his fellow survivors are brought to the Sandwich Islands. Manjiro, however, is invited by the captain to continue on the journey...  The adventures of this young man, his determination, and his role in assisting the Japanese government to view the west with less suspicion make an amazing read! My boys give this one a straight across the board enthusiastic two thumbs up.
                                                   Manjiro: The Boy Who Risked His Life for Two Countries

We have a second book to read about this story, Shipwrecked! The True Adventures of a Japanese Boy by Rhoda Blumberg, and I was also able to put this book on hold at my local library. It will be interesting to read other accounts of this remarkable story.
Heart of a SamuraiShipwrecked!: The True Adventures of a Japanese Boy


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Comments

  1. JoannaJune 27, 2011 at 10:24 AM

    Impressed that you keep finding equine stories for us. I have just started writing a chapter series which will include a few horses (among many other animals), but not the pony club type of stories!

    Magnus at the Fire would be great in a series of animal jobs!

    ReplyDelete

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