Customer Reviews

Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express (I Can Read Book 3)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The story set the pace right from the first page. It was one adventure after another. The bright illustrations set the tone for each adventure. This was the first book my son said he couldn't wait to get to the next chapter ( it's set up in only 4 chapters), because he had to know what happened to Bill Cody.

I bought this for my 5th grader for a school report on Buffalo Bill. There was not much info about the book so I wasn't sure what it would be. While an entertaining story, it is not suitable for research.
It is listed as a "Level 3 - Grades 2 - 4"
Depending on your child's reading level, this may be way off. I thought it was way too easy for even a 3rd grader.

This book is about the Pony Express. It tells about Bill's first adventures on the Pony Express. At first I thought the book was boring, but then it got exciting. The interesting things are Bill's being chased by Indians, the shootout with Terrible Todd, and the wolf pack ambush.

I felt I learned virtually everything about the Pony Express. For instance, it is an early traditional form of mail transportation. I learned when Bill joined the Pony Express and when he stopped. I am glad to have learned about the Pony Express, although I would like to get a more exciting book with more action next time.

I recommend Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express for kids who are six or seven years old. I would like to find a book on this subject that is better for nine year olds.

This is a great book about an independent boy who takes a dangerous job. He makes light of the hazards he encounters -- Indians, wolves, and bandits -- and perseveres to get his job done. His letters to his mother are both funny (in what they leave out) and sweet (he is sending money home to his mother -- very responsible.)

I think Bill's ten-dollar hat made a big impression on my son -- It cost almost half of a month's pay. I tried to explain how much money that would be, if our Daddy bought a hat that cost half his earnings for a month.

I must put in a great word for Don Bolognese's illustrations -- they convey all the action and excitement of the story. Well done!

*** update *** A follow on to this book, at a harder reading level (maybe second grade), is "They're Off" by Cheryl Harness

Young Buffalo Bill becomes a Pony Express Rider and suddenly must battle weather, Indians after his pony, wolves, danger, and bad guys. What more can a small boy want? (or in my case, a boy and a girl with a excessive fondness for horses).

Speaking of horses, I'd like to offer a bit of fact/trivia regarding the editorial review which says, "Unfortunately, a serious error appears. Bill travels from Red Buttes to Three Crossings station. When he arrives, he's told that a rider is sick and he needs to ride an additional 75-mile stretch. The text then states that, "Seven hours later, Bill made it to Three Crossings." Readers are bound to be perplexed by this statement and will be shuffling back through the pages to see what they missed. Too bad.?Gale W. Sherman, Pocatello Public Library, ID
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc."

This was obviously written by someone who, not knowing much about horses, thinks they can run 75 miles without stopping. Unfortunately, horses are not cars, and must stop to rest, eat, and drink often. Back in the 1800's, 75 miles in 7 hours WAS fast! I will summarize a paragraph from the ultimatehorsesite.com.
Modern Endurance Rides of 100 miles done by the same horse and rider in under 24 hours-usually require 8 vet checks, where the horse is required to rest for 30 minutes, as well as pass a health check. That's 4 hours spent resting; also, the rider may get off and jog with their horse partway. These horses are in top condition.

That means that 1/3 of the distance (33 miles) takes 8 hours. Buffalo Bill covered 75 miles in the same time! I'm impressed, not perplexed!

I bought this for my 7 year old and he enjoyed it so much that wanted to reread it a couple of months later. He discovered what it feels like to have a book "stick with you". Great story, interesting events, memorable characters - his favorite parts are Buffalo Bill's letters to his mom (read it, you'll get it).

We read just before bed and the level 4 books don't push him too hard (level 5's are a bit too much for just before bed) just hard enough that he is learning words, inferences, remembering characters and events, and learning to love reading stories - all the things I want him to take away from these books.

5 stars well deserved.

My son really likes re-reading this book because the story is about a young person who rides horses and has adventure (in his words).