Leah's Pony (Paperback)

by Elizabeth Friedrich (Author), Michael Garland (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3?A fine example of successful historical fiction in picture-book format. Leah's parents are farmers in the Great Plains of the 1930s. Amid locusts and drought, their bank forecloses on its loan, ordering a farm auction. Leah sells her beloved pony and uses the money to bid one dollar for her father's tractor. No one has the heart to outbid her. Her action inspires others at the auction to buy the rest of the goods for ridiculously low-dusty bids and return everything to Leah's family. The oil paintings with subdued color values have great intensity, especially several that catch their subjects full-face and frozen at the peak of strong emotional reactions. Impact is enhanced by the starkness of the setting and the illustrations' stillness. This is a far cry from the brightness of Garland's My Cousin Katie (Crowell, 1989; o.p.). Friedrich adds a one-page historical note describing the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression, and "penny" farm auctions. A moving, effective sketch of a child's bravery and its power to trigger generosity in the adults around her.? Liza Bliss, Worcester Public Library, MA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist
Ages 5^-8. Using spare text and eloquent pictures, this book focuses on the difficulties that families encountered in the dust bowl, when the "wind blew so hard it turned the sky black with dust." Leah sees her parents' fear when the stock must be sold and the bank plans an auction. Readers will empathize with the girl when she sells her pony and bids her one dollar on the all-important tractor, thus setting off a "penny auction," in which neighbors buy the struggling family's assets for tiny amounts but then return them. Friedrich personalizes the history without making it too painful for young readers, and Garland's paintings, which keep detail to a minimum, focus attention on the people and the sweeping landscape. Pair this with Ann Turner's Dust for Dinner , an I Can Read book on the same subject. Susan Dove Lempke --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563978288
• ISBN-13: 978-1563978289
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 10 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #206,449 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Beautiful..., March 18, 2001

By	Cris Cunningham "loves to read" (Long island, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leah's Pony (Hardcover)

Not only is this book beautifully illustrated (the pictures are so detailed and colorful that they literally jump out of the book with each turn of the page), but it carries a poignant story about a family that pulls together through the efforts of a little girl and her pony.

Leah is a very smart farm girl who lives in the Great Plains during the Dust Bowl of the Great Depression. When her father cannot meet his loan obligations, the family farm has to be put up at auction. Leah's prize possession is her new pony ("the best in the county") and she comes up with an ingenious plan on how to use the pony to save her family's farm.

This is a remarkable story about a very clever girl. I can't say too much without giving away the entire story, but suffice it to say that this is an educational, inspirational and artistic masterpiece that should be on every child's shelf.

An added bonus: the author includes a very good historical summary at the end of the book.

Enjoy.

Cris

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Leah's Pony, July 31, 2003

A Kid's Review

This was a captivating story about a young girl and her family's struggles. There is a chance she may lose her best friend, her pony, because of her family's financial troubles. The resolution to this crisis is both heartwarming and inspiring. Leah's selfless act influences others to help as well. You'll love the auction and the ending!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book for people of all ages, July 30, 2003

A Kid's Review

Leah's Pony is a wonderful book about bravery and sacrifice. It portrays one family's struggle and how they overcome hardship. Through one selfless act by the young girl, her family's fortunes change for the better.
Read and enjoy!