C. W. Anderson (1) (1891–1971)

Billy was a little boy who "loved horses more than anything else in the world." Imagine how happy he was when he got his very own pony for his birthday! From that day on, Billy was seldom seen without his new friend, Blaze.

Riding through fields and woods, Billy and Blaze learned to trust and understand one another - and to jump fences and fallen trees with ease. They were a great team, but were they good enough to win the gleaming silver cup at the Mason Horse Show?

The brief story is told in the stilted sentence structure of the early readers, which is not surprising considering it was written in 1938. I think the only reason it is still in print is it is an adventure enticing to young boys. Billy saves the local community from forest fire by his quick thinking and hard riding. Blaze is also a hero by making jumps never before attempted.

This book is on the Nebraska 150 Books list, which is the only reason I picked it up. I'm glad I did though--I like to give books as gifts, and if I ever have the chance to recommend or give a gift to a young boy who loves animals, this moves to the top of the list. It's a sweet story about a boy, his pony, and his dog, with what resembles pencil-drawn illustrations. Enjoyable.

I remember checking this out at the library as a child. This brings back great memories!