$19.49
Author: Hart Alison
Brand: Random House Books for Young Readers
Color: Teal/Turquoise green
Edition: Illustrated
Number Of Pages: 144
Details: About the Author
Alison Hart has been horse crazy ever since she can remember. A teacher and author, she has written over 20 books for children, most of them about horses. Her novel Shadow Horse was nominated for an Edgar Award. Today, Alison still rides because—you guessed it—she’s still horse crazy! She lives in Mt. Sidney, Virginia.
Ruth Sanderson has illustrated books for children of all ages, including Summer Pony and Winter Pony. She lives with her family in Ware, Massachusetts, and her favorite hobby is horseback riding.
Product Description
Vermont, 1850s
Bell’s Star is a brown Morgan colt with a white star and two white stockings. He was bred for hard work, yet he longs to run free with his human friend, Katie, on his back. But when Star helps rescue a runaway slave girl, his ideas about freedom may change forever. Here is Star’s story . . . in his own words.
With exciting and knowledgeable text and lovely black-and-white art throughout—both by real horse owners—Horse Diaries are the perfect fit for all lovers of horses and history!
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Vermont, Early Spring 1850
I was born in a rocky paddock on a cloudy night. Light snow fell from the sky, covering my brown fur with white. My mother’s tongue washed over me and warmed my skin. Soon she nudged me, urging me to stand.
Rise, she told me. Danger can hide in the dark woods.
I scrambled to my feet. My long legs were sturdy, my body stout. I nursed, and my mother’s milk gave me strength. I hopped in the snow, trying out my legs. Mother smiled proudly as I trotted and leaped. Soon I grew weary. Mother led me into the shed, and sinking onto a soft pile of hay, I slept.
Morning came, and the rising sun broke through the clouds. As soon as it was light, my mother began to teach me.
There is so much to learn, she told me. I followed her around the paddock. She touched her nose to all the new things: fence, tree, water trough, hay, mud.
Mud I learned quickly. As the snow melted, my tiny hooves sank into the sloppy brown mess. I was scrambling onto a dry stump when a fluttering sound startled me.
A bright blue creature landed on the fence. I tensed. Is this danger? I asked my mother.
Her muzzle twitched in laughter. No, my son. That is a blue jay. They are pesky and steal my corn, but they are not danger.
Jumping off the stump, I whinnied to the blue jay. It flew into the trees.
Blue jays have wings, my mother explained. They are free to fly to wherever they want.
I peered between the fence rails. I wanted to race after the blue jay to the place called wherever they want. The blue jay had disappeared, but outside the paddock were many more new things to explore!
I touched my nose to the railing, but the fence circled my mother and me, penning us in. I checked my back. Did I have wings? All I saw was brown hair.
If only I had wings, I thought. I could fly free, too.
Suddenly a shriek filled the air. I fled behind my mother. I flicked my fuzzy ears.
Danger? Turning, I peeked from beneath her thick black tail.
A creature leaped over the top railing, landing with a splash in the mud. It was as colorful and noisy as the blue jay, only bigger!
Wings spread wide, it hurtled toward me. Terrified, I turned to run, but my long legs tangled. I fell in a heap. Mud splattered my white star. The giant blue jay plopped on the ground next to me. Its wings wrapped tightly around my neck, and I was trapped!
Mother, I neighed. Danger!
But my mother’s eyes were twinkling.
“Papa! Bell had her foal!” the blue jay cried out.
“I see, Miss Katie,” an even taller blue jay answered. “But, daughter, your joy is scaring him. Let him go so we can see how fine he is.”
The wings released me. I scrambled to my hooves and rushed to the far side of the paddock. My mother hurried after me and blew into my nostrils.
Do not be afraid. Those are humans. The large one is Papa. The small one is Katie. They feed and care for us. In return, we work for them.
Work.
Release Date: 24-03-2009
Package Dimensions: 13x178x136
