Marguerite Henry's Horseshoe Library Box Set

by Marguerite Henry, Wesley Dennis (Illustrator)

Contents: Misty of Chincoteague -- Stormy, Misty's foal -- Sea Star, orphan of Chincoteague.

Genres: Fiction, Animals, Childrens, Horses, Classics

Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Marguerite Henry (April 13, 1902–November 26, 1997) was an American writer. The author of fifty-nine books based on true stories of horses and other animals, her work has captivated entire generations of children and young adults and won several Newbery Awards and Honors. Among the more famous of her works was Misty of Chincoteague, which was the basis for the 1961 movie Misty, and several sequel books.

"It is exciting to me that no matter how much machinery replaces the horse, the work it can do is still measured in horsepower ... even in the new age. And although a riding horse often weighs half a ton and a big drafter a full ton, either can be led about by a piece of string if he has been wisely trained. This to me is a constant source of wonder and challenge." This quote was from an article about Henry published in the Washington Post on November 28, 1997, in response to a query about her drive to write about horses.

Marguerite Henry inspired children all over the world with her love of animals, especially horses. Author of over fifty children's stories, including the Misty of Chincoteague series, Henry's love of animals started during her childhood. Unfortunately, Henry was stricken with a rheumatic fever at the age of six, which kept her bedridden until the age of twelve. Born to Louis and Anna Breithaupt, the youngest of the five children, Henry was a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Because of her illness, Henry wasn't allowed to go to school with other children because of her weak state and the fear of spreading the illness to others. While she was confined indoors, she discovered the joy of reading. Soon afterward, she also discovered a love for writing when her father, a publisher, presented her with a writing desk for Christmas. On the top of stacks of colored paper her father wrote, "Dear Last of the Mohicans: Not a penny for your thoughts, but a tablet. Merry Christmas! Pappa Louis XXXX."

Henry's first published work came at the age of eleven, a short story about a collie and a group of children, which she sold to a magazine for $12. Henry always wrote about animals, such as dogs, cats, birds, foxes, and even mules, but chiefly her stories focused on horses.

In 1923, she married Sidney Crocker Henry. During their sixty-four years of marriage they didn't have children, but instead had many pets that inspired some of Marguerite's stories. They lived in Wayne, Illinois.

In 1947, she published Misty of Chincoteague and it was an instant success. Later, this book—as well as Justin Morgan had a Horse and Brighty of the Grand Canyon—were made into movies.

She finished her last book, Brown Sunshine of Sawdust Valley, just before her death on November 26, 1997 at the age of 95.

Reviews

[Tami Gandt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the historic Spanish Galleon that encountered a sudden storm that was carrying in its hold Moor ponies that were to be delivered to the Viceroy of Peru. The ship sunk, all of the crew perished but the resilient ponies escaped when the ship broke apart and found a home on Assateague island.
Fast forward to the 1940's where Paul and Maureen live with their grandparents on Chincoteague island. Every year the ponies are rounded up and swim across the channel from Assateague to Chincoteague where ponies are sold to the public. This is the story of Misty as well as the Phantom, her mother who has alluded capture.
What I liked about this story are the values displayed throughout the story of perseverance, kindness, empathy, truthfulness, goal-setting and responsibility to oneself, others and other living creatures. These values are the heart of the story.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved horse stories when I was a child, and these remain some of the best children's literature I ever read. One of my fondest memories of living in DC was of camping on the beach on Assateague Island with my friends Barry and Sam after spending a hot and bug-filled day watching the wild horse bands roam the islands. Misty lived! So, so, so wonderful.

[Brittany]

good book

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used to be crazy about horses when I was little and I read the whole Misty series through at least three times.

[Julie]

Classic for little kids, but I haven't read them since elementary.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably haven't read these books since I was about 10. Still wonderful.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great books for 2nd graders!

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a horse mad little girl, I wanted to read all the books by Marguerite Henry, but our library only had a few.

Coming back to these as an adult, they are charming. They were written in and about a different time and the age shows, but doesn’t detract from the stories. I would still recommend them to any young reader who can’t get enough stories about horses.

Quick note on reading order;
1 - Misty of Chincoteague
2 - Sea Star, Orphan of Chincoteague
3 - Stormy, Misty’s Foal

I didn’t know that and read them 1, 3, 2 since that’s the order on the box. It doesn’t matter as each story can stand alone, but the above order is both chronological and the order they were written.

[Alyiah.Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it because there are horses. It was about these people were dropping horses off and they were going the wrong way. That is all i'm going to say.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories out of the late 40's, 50's and 60's - innocent in the writing just as the time period in my childhood. Simple but refreshing in the reading.

[Megan Schubert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was obsessed with horses as a child, and I always wanted to grow up to work with horses at that time. This is one of the horse themed books that I read, and really liked at the time.