Brighty of the Grand Canyon
Rand McNally & Company, Chicago, 1953, illus Wesley Dennis
Brighty was a wild burro living in the Grand Canyon of Arizona. "Tamed" by an old prospector when he found the burro in bad shape after a run in with a porcupine, Brighty (actually named Bright Angel after the name of the creek in the Grand Canyon) became a free partner of the old timer, sharing his pancakes and biscuits, helping carry his packs and still living free and roaming at will. When the old timer suddenly disappears, the sherrif and Uncle Jimmy Owen, a lion hunter, suspect foul play. Through the following years, Brighty splits his time between living in the Grand Canyon during the cold winters and journeying up to Uncle Jimmy's ranch during the summers.
Brighty has many adventures including going on a lion hunt with Uncle Jimmy, President Theodore Roosevelt and his son Quentin; being injured by a lion and cured by Uncle Jimmy; helping various visitors to the Grand Canyon when in the mood, and eventually coming across the old timer's murderer and helping with his capture.
The book has lovely illustrations: again these were dropped in later versions. A film was also made of the book. [Info by Fran Fignar]
Black Gold
Rand McNally & Company, Chicago, 1957, illus Wesley Dennis
