Walter Farley -
THE HORSE THAT SWAM AWAY
This is a "stand alone" story for intermediate readers. Tim and
his arab mare, Tena, live on the ocean shore in Florida and enjoy galloping in the
waves and swimming in the ocean. One day, Tena swims off in the ocean playing with
a friendly porpoise, and Tim is unable to find her. In his search, he rows out to
an island where Billy Roundlegs, a Mikasuki Indian lives, who doesn't like visitors
to his island. Tim is able to make friends with Billy, meets many of the sea creatures
Billy knows, especially the tame porpoise, Kiko, which Tena had followed and is finally
able to get his mare back with the help of his new friend.
An Easy Reader Book. Written in the first person by Little Black's young owner (who isn't named). The young boy loves Little Black but when Big Red, a full size horse, gallops by, he wants to try riding the big horse. Big Red can do lots of things Little Black can't do. He can jump, he can run fast. Everyone admires Big Red. Little Black is jealous because his owner doesn't ride him and runs off. When his owner finds him missing, he rides Big Red to look for Little Black. Crossing a frozen pond when he spots Little Black, Big Red falls through the ice and his rider falls into the icy water. Big Red runs off but Little Black is able to rescue his owner because he doesn't weigh as much. Of course, all is well as Little Black is again the favorite. Simple story. The illustrations are probably the best part of this book.
LITTLE BLACK GOES TO THE CIRCUS!
Little Black's owner (still unnamed) loves his pony and teaches Little Black many tricks. One day, they see a poster advertising a circus and ride over to see the animals. Little Black watches the ringmaster working with a trick horse and tries to do a trick himself but falls over. Everyone laughs at Little Black for tying to be a trick horse. Feeling sorry for Little Black, his owner teaches him how to walk a narrow plank. Then Little Black runs back to the circus to show his new trick and the ringmaster is impressed, especially when Little Black can walk a plank high in the air. The ringmaster wants to keep Little Black and make him a star and his owner is afraid Little Black will want to stay with the circus. However, Little Black prefers his young master and runs back to him. They are happy just doing their tricks at home.
This is a story for an intermediate reader. Bill tells his brother, Steve, and Little Black, that they are too small to enter the pony race at the County Fair. However, Bill and his bigger pony, Flash, are going to race against all the other boys and girls, especially, Sparky and his pony, Blaze. When Bill's pony beats Sparky's in a practice race, Sparky is jealous and plans to eliminate his competition if he can. On the day of the Fair, while Bill and Steve go on some of the rides, Sparky gives Flash a big feed of grain so the pony gets sick and Bill has to pull out of the race. Angry at the trick Sparky pulled, he tells Steve he and Little Black can enter in his place. When the race starts, Sparky tries to interfere with Little Black but loses his balance when he grabs Little Black's mane and falls off. Little Black and Steve win, in the process teaching Sparky a lesson on sportsmanship.
