Death of the Iron Horse [Hardcover]

Goble (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 31, 1987 | Age Level: 6 and up

In an act of bravery and defiance against the white men encroaching on their territory in 1867, a group of young Cheyenne braves derail and raid a freight train.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this picture book, the Caldecott Medalist again recreates the past as experienced by Native Americans. His incomparable paintings, full of vitality and color, illustrate a true story, the Cheyennes' sole victory over encroaching whites whose railroads "tear open our Mother, the earth." In 1867, the young Cheyenne warriors rode out on their ponies to attack the fire-breathing Iron Horse, causing a terrible wreck that actually had some humorous aspects. Although short-lived, the braves' triumph is entrenched in Indian lore. And the artist's final picture mutely and eloquently records the difference between the attitudes of the conquerers and the Native Americans who respected the landlitter defaces the area beside the rails of a modern Amtrak. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3 Goble has taken several accounts of the 1867 Cheyenne attack of a Union Pacific freight train (listed on the verso of the title page) and combined them into a story from the Indians' viewpoint. As the Cheyenne Prophet Sweet Medicine had foretold, strange hairy people were invading the land, killing women and children and driving off the horses. Descriptions of the iron horse inspired curiosity and fear in the young braves who decided to go out and protect their village from this new menace. Keeping fairly close to actual Indian accounts, Goble presents the braves' bold attack on the train, glossing over the deaths of the train crew. The highlight of the book is the portrayal of the young braves as they explore the contents of the train. They toss meaningless rectangles of green paper into the air and spread bolts of colorful cloth across the prairie. Deciding they had nothing more to fear, the braves return home, little realizing what the future holds. The art, done in India ink and watercolors, is delicately colored with lots of open white space. A beautifully illustrated story. Karen Zimmerman, I.D. Weeks Library, University of South Dakota, Vermillion
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books; 1st edition (March 31, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0027378306
• ISBN-13: 978-0027378306
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,305,625 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Paul Goble is an award winning author and illustrator of children's books. He has won both the Caldecott Medal and The Library of Congress' Children's Book of the Year Award. To date, Mr. Goble has illustrated over 30 books. He has given his entire collection of original illustrations to the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings, South Dakota.

Goble, a native of England, studied at the Central School of Art in London. He has lived in the United States since 1977 and became a citizen in 1984. Goble's life-long fascination with Native Americans of the plains began during his childhood when he became intrigued with their spirituality and culture. His illustrations accurately depict Native American clothing, customs and surroundings in brilliant color and detail. Goble researches ancient stories and retells them for his young audiences in a manner sympathetic to Native American ways. Goble lives with his wife in Rapid City, SD.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A moment of triumph, March 29, 2001

By 

"liadran" (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death Of The Iron Horse (Paperback)

Illustrated by Mr. Goble's usual beautiful pictures, this is the dramatic story of the time that a group of plains Indian warriors fought against the invasion of the "iron horse", or steam train.