Steve at Shadow and Light works in a Middle school library. He constantly looks for ways to get kids reading. One of the giant assignments he gave himself was to read all the books that were given the Newberry Award. What's the Newberry award you say? It's a yearly award that was started in 1922 for the best juvenile fiction of the previous year. So starting in 1922 to 2021 is about 99 books.
Steve read the 1926 winner which was Smoky the Cow Horse. Steve didn't like it much, however it brought back many memories for me.
In the one room country schools it was customary for the teacher to read for 15 minutes after lunch. This was an activity that I looked forward to every day. One of the books a teacher read was Smoky the Cow Horse. I listened to every word and it was one of the best books read to us in my opinion. Since I was a little fam boy, I liked horses and knew about horses and cattle.
There are only two other books I remember hearing and that was Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maude Montgomery.
So I got thinking About Smoky and that I had remembered this story all my life. I listened to the story in the late 40's
So what did I think? Well I thought maybe I should read the story for myself. I read the story and enjoyed it and was surprised by how much of it I could remember. Yes, Steve's criticisms were valid. He didn't like the cowboy language that was used. There were stereotypes. Steve is an urban type so it would be difficult to relate to many parts of the story.
The story received the Newberry award for 1926 so was from a different age. It was written by Will James 1892 to 1942. Will James wrote many good western stories.
The Newberry Award book I remember reading checking out from our school library is Misty of Chincoteague. It was about a horse too!
ReplyDeleteDon’t look now, but 1922 through 2021 is 100 years, not 99 years.
Okay, I'll watch my math better next time. I think I did say about!
DeleteI not familiar with the awards or the book. Sounds good though and glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI was only vaguely aware of the Newberry award and then I looked it up.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI would enjoy the story about Smoky the horse. Like the reader above, Misty of Chincoteague was one of my favorite books. Take care, enjoy the rest of your week!
Now when two of you mention the same book I'll have to look for it. I realize these are junior fiction but they are still very well written stories.
DeleteOlder writings are not always palatable to modern tastes. I think Green Gables still works well, though.
ReplyDeleteKey word "palatable". Some stories don't stand the test of time.
DeleteI really like Anne of Green Gables:)
ReplyDeleteMontgomery wrote at least one more Anne book.
DeleteIt is so interesting that you read one of those Newberry books that Steve writes about. I don't recall ever reading a single one. I love that you re-read it, Red. That is so wonderful!
ReplyDeleteSteve gives some good suggestions for books to read.
DeleteNever heard of this one, but I have to say I absolutely LOVED being read to in school, and those stories have stuck with me. My grade 4 teacher was a champion of reading great books to us (Judy Blume's "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" series comes to mind, along with the adorable "Great Brain" books by Fitzgerald, and Julie Andrew's charming story "The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles" - she wrote that under the name Julie Edwards), plus my grade 6 teacher read to us The Hobbit, which got me hooked on Tolkien's series ages before anyone made a decent film of them. Even when I was teaching high school Humanities, I read to my classes too. Powerful stuff!
ReplyDeleteInteresting that the stories you mention are modern. Yes, I remember you coming home from school and telling us about these stories. I'm sure Mrs Spence would be most pleased to find out what kind of reader you became.
DeleteI remember some of my teachers reading to us after lunch. I remember Old Yeller and Where the Red Fern Grows among others. It was always nice to come in from recess and have a chance to cool down with a nice story.
ReplyDeleteThe first movie I saw in an outdoor theatre was Old Yeller.
DeleteRe-reading young adult fiction of an earlier time is something I have been thinking of doing. There were so many books that left an impression on me, but I am afraid that I will find I was too impressionable.
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with being too impressionable. It's really picking many things up that others pass over and miss.
DeleteSmoky the Cowhorse was one of my father's favorite books. He would have been 10 years old when it got the award, was growing up on a ranch in Washington state. His father promoted rodeos, and my dad was really one of the last of the cowboys.
ReplyDeleteAs I said, I was a little farm boy and this story resonated with me.
DeleteI remember my 7th grade teacher reading to us every day. And I remember a book I read in maybe first grade, Herman the Brave Little Pig. I reread it several years later, to the dismay of the school librarian. It was just as good.
ReplyDeleteI love children's books and I think it is wonderful that you re-read this book. I remember many of my favorite books and some still fit in with today's life from the prospective of a child. There are others, unfortunately, that do not fit in today due to the stereotypes.
ReplyDeleteThe better readers will pick out things from junior fiction that is significant.
ReplyDeleteHowdy partner! Yup Steve is an "urban type". In fact he's a city slicker. Wouldn't know a hoof from a horn. Reading aloud to children was one of my strengths. I could really captivate them but government inspectors did not applaud that particular activity as it was impossible to measure.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read Smoky yet. I see it is available free on the Kindle. I'll check it out. Just for those who are curious, here is the description from Amazon: Smoky knows only one way of life: freedom. Living on the open range, he is free to go where he wants and to do what he wants. And he knows what he has to do to survive. He can beat any enemy, whether it be a rattlesnake or a hungry wolf. He is as much a part of the Wild West as it is of him, and Smoky can't imagine anything else.
ReplyDeleteBut then he comes across a new enemy, one that walks on two legs and makes funny sounds. Smoky can't beat this enemy the way he has all the others. But does he really want to? Or could giving up some of his freedom mean getting something in return that's even more valuable?
This is a good tradition, reading daily. I did, with my students!
ReplyDeleteNice plan to pick these books.
I used to read twice a day to my class which they loved. I just read a synopsis of Smoky the Cowhorse. I can see why you liked it so much. It’s made me want to read it too.
ReplyDeleteI loved being read to as a child, and I loved reading to my children. Now, I love reading to my grandchildren.
ReplyDeletesweet sharing !
ReplyDeletesince the technology has dominated the scenario it is hard to make kids read sadly .
i enjoyed more the part you mentioned your reading in classroom ,i loved reading for others , i was good at this as student and teacher's admiration would overshadow my horrible handwriting which made me happy.
once a daughter of the one of my teacher challenged me as i can read faster than her .it took place before whole school in morning assembly time and i was the winner ,i did not like the sadness on her beautiful face ,she was elegant girl .i still wonder she should have won this .