They're Off! : The Story of the Pony Express [Hardcover]

Cheryl Harness (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Provides a factual, exciting account of the American postal system in the 1860s, covering the origins and history of the Pony Express, its daring riders and their struggles, and the tale of the first East to West connection ever made.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4-A history of this unique form of mail delivery with an emphasis on the historical events leading up to, surrounding, and eventually causing the demise of the Pony Express, as well as an introduction to many of the people involved. Harness's text is involving and filled with lively detail. Her busy and elaborate illustrations also create a panorama of the age. Tidbits of information such as the definition of mochila are given in many hand-lettered asides in the pictures. A list of all 182 riders is appended, and a one-page pictorial presentation of happenings around the world at the time should help children get a broader historical perspective. While much of the material here is similar to that in Steven Kroll's Pony Express! (Scholastic, 1996), Kroll offers more of a close-up presentation, with less historical context. The high appeal of the subject matter suggests that there may be room on most library shelves for both titles. Readers of both books may be puzzled since Harness says the rider leaving Missouri was Johnny Fry, while Kroll says it was Bill Richardson. Kroll's note explains that there is disagreement on this matter; Harness doesn't mention it. Bibliographies in both titles are totally different as well.
Louise L. Sherman, Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJ
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 3^-5. Beckoned by the promise of California gold in the mid-1800s, Americans ventured west by the thousands. This lively and beautifully illustrated picture book for middle readers tells the history of the Pony Express, bringing to life the excitement of a period in our nation's history when rapid expansion increased the need for a fast method of communication between the East and the West. The text discusses the political climate (the Civil War was brewing) and the economic forces behind the birth of the Pony Express and describes the extreme hardships endured by the dedicated riders. Animated watercolor paintings--colorful scenes of stagecoaches, steamboats, and encounters with hostile Indians--capture the flavor of the Wild West, and visual learners will benefit from the illustrated and annotated maps sprinkled throughout the text. Lauren Peterson

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; 1st edition (November 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689805233
• ISBN-13: 978-0689805233
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,062,517 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Cheryl Harness makes her home in Independence, Missouri, the "Queen City of the Trails," a couple of blocks away from the big white house where Harry and Bess Truman used to live. She lives with Mimi (a black and white Shih Tsu)), and Merrie Emma (a cross-eyed scaredy-cat). As an author, illustrator, public speaker, and presenter in many an elementary school, Cheryl is known for her engaging, entertaining approach to history, her detailed watercolors, and the way she plays her harmonica.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Illustrations, June 4, 2008

By 

K. Henning "NH working mom of 3" (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: They're Off! : The Story of the Pony Express (Paperback)

Our 8-year-old son loved this book. It was purchased for a homeschool social studies curriculum regarding westward expansion and it caught his interest right away. He even wants to keep the book after "school" is over. Short, quick read with great illustrations. Good snapshot of the Pony Express and the mail system in the U.S.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars We Love this Book in Missouri, January 13, 2008

By 

Dr. Joan E. Aitken "author of Interpersonal C... (Kansas City, MO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: They're Off! : The Story of the Pony Express (Paperback)

This story is about the first Pony Express ride in 1860. There is pre and post historical information and discussion about the influence of the telegraph. The illustrations accompanying the middle-later elementary text are beautiful.

4.0 out of 5 stars the illustrations reach out and grab you, August 26, 2009

By 

M. Heiss (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: They're Off! : The Story of the Pony Express (Paperback)

We have been reading and studying about westward expansion and frontier living all summer; this book is valuable in the context of connecting the continent. The book captures the history of the overland mail, as well as many of the legends and lore surrounding the Pony Express, too.

My second grader is ga-ga over this book; the illustrations are terrific.

If you enjoyed the early reader "Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express," then this is a natural follow-on for more advanced readers.

Great for historical context and in-depth maps, diagrams, and drawings. This is a wonderful learning tool. Having read "Orphans Preferred" I can happily say that this is a much better book on the topic, even though it is geared toward a young readership.