Bonny's Big Day - Softcover

Herriot, James

Softcover

ISBN 10: 031206571X ISBN 13: 9780312065713

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin, 1991

Synopsis

The storytelling magic of James Herriot has become a warm, joyful part of our children's lives. Bonny's Big Day is the endearing tale of Farmer Skipton and his beloved cart horse Bonny, who one day comes out of "retirement" for a very special day on the town.

About this title

Review:

What would inspire ornery old farmer John Skipton to enter his 20-year-old workhorse in a pet show? Why, love, of course. Mr. Skipton has worked hard all his life, so hard in fact that he never had time for marriage, children, or "pets." He was always too busy tending the sheep and the cows or harvesting the fields and orchards. However, as old and gruff as he appears to be, he takes time every day to take a pitchfork full of fresh hay to his two old carthorses, Bonny and Dolly, who've been retired for more than 12 years. After years of pulling ploughs and wagons, and doing all the hard work that tractors do now, the two old horses lead a life of leisure down near the river, quite a steep climb for an old man like Skipton. When the country vet suggests the farmer enter Bonny in the Darrowby Fair Pet Show, Skipton dismisses the idea without consideration. But over the course of the next week, the old fellow changes his mind and makes a surprise appearance at the pet show. The lovely illustrations depicting the rugged beauty of the Yorkshire dales, the handsome horses, and the lively inhabitants of the community attending the fair bring an old-fashioned beauty to the telling of this charming tale. --Colleen Preston

From School Library Journal:

Grade 1-4 Herriot relies on a personal experience to create an endearing human interest story. This story centers on a gruff old farmer and his two retired carthorses who, for the past 12 years, have provided their owner with companionship. After seeing the farmer care for his horses, Herriot encourages him to enter one of the mares (the other is nursing a sore leg) in the family pet class of a local animal show. The farmer spruces up both himself and the horse for the big show and walks away with top honors. Readers, old and young alike, are bound to be moved by this simple tale, as Herriot again shows the deep feelings that can be experienced between human beings and animals. Brown's soft, exquisite paintings nicely capture the mood of the characters and the picturesque English countryside. A lovely book that adults will enjoy sharing with and distributing to children. Tom S. Hurlburt, Minneapolis Public Library
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• Publication date: 1991
• ISBN 10: 031206571X
• ISBN 13: 9780312065713
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Brown Ruth