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Mrs. Mack
Patricia had waited all her life for the summer that she can learn to ride a horse, and when her father takes her to a shabby old stable, she meets Mrs. Mack, with her snakeskin boots and big Southern smile, who teaches her everything about riding.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published October 26, 1998
4 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Polacco
95 books1,061 followersPatricia Polacco is a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator with around seventy beloved and award-winning books to her credit, including The Keeping Quilt, Pink and Say, The Blessing Cup, Chicken Sunday, and Thank You, Mr. Falker. She resides in Michigan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
August 31, 2019
A wonderful story about a young girl learning to ride over the summers she spent with her father. This is a longer story, suitable for any age. There's one part that is so emotional it would make it totally unsuitable for a read aloud, I'm glad I read this one to myself and will pass this on to my daughter afterwards.
4.5 stars. I would highly recommend this to any horse loving children, having spent some years working with horses I really enjoyed this book, my daughter has a horse to care for and exercise now so this was really enjoyable for me. The story got across the feeling of being with horses, the hard work, the outdoor life and the companionship of others at the stable as well as the bond you make with the horses. It was interesting to see how different saddles, bridles and stirrups are in the US!
I love the way Patricia Polacco uses memories and real life stories to write about and I really appreciate the way she makes a lot of her picture books suitable for older readers in length and subject matter.
Highly recommended to horse lovers and everyone but not recommended to read in a public place or as a read aloud as you might feel the need for sobbing!
Read on open library.
4.5 stars. I would highly recommend this to any horse loving children, having spent some years working with horses I really enjoyed this book, my daughter has a horse to care for and exercise now so this was really enjoyable for me. The story got across the feeling of being with horses, the hard work, the outdoor life and the companionship of others at the stable as well as the bond you make with the horses. It was interesting to see how different saddles, bridles and stirrups are in the US!
I love the way Patricia Polacco uses memories and real life stories to write about and I really appreciate the way she makes a lot of her picture books suitable for older readers in length and subject matter.
Highly recommended to horse lovers and everyone but not recommended to read in a public place or as a read aloud as you might feel the need for sobbing!
Read on open library.
December 30, 2009
I think this book should have been titled Penny, after the horse and not the riding instructor.
Here’s another Polacco book I sobbed through.
This is a perfect book for horse crazy girls; it’s outstanding.
This is the story of how the author, when she was ten, learned to ride, and of a horse she was especially fond of.
The illustrations are wonderful, especially knowing they’re of real horses and real people.
What I especially loved about this story is it shows the hard work, perseverance, chores that are required, falls and mistakes that are always made, while learning to ride horses. It also shows how loving communication is so effective between person and horse and between person and person. There is some genuine suspense and pathos here, but it’s appropriate for even young children.
On the last page of the book, the author tells what happens to everybody, something I very much appreciated.
I’ve never been much of a horse person, but seeing the relationship develop between Pat and Penny, I’d love spend some time with and get to know a horse or two.
Here’s another Polacco book I sobbed through.
This is a perfect book for horse crazy girls; it’s outstanding.
This is the story of how the author, when she was ten, learned to ride, and of a horse she was especially fond of.
The illustrations are wonderful, especially knowing they’re of real horses and real people.
What I especially loved about this story is it shows the hard work, perseverance, chores that are required, falls and mistakes that are always made, while learning to ride horses. It also shows how loving communication is so effective between person and horse and between person and person. There is some genuine suspense and pathos here, but it’s appropriate for even young children.
On the last page of the book, the author tells what happens to everybody, something I very much appreciated.
I’ve never been much of a horse person, but seeing the relationship develop between Pat and Penny, I’d love spend some time with and get to know a horse or two.
February 10, 2020
Ten-year-old Patricia had been waiting her whole life, it seemed, for that magical moment when she would finally be allowed to ride a horse! But when her father drops her off at Miss Mack's, a rundown-looking stable in Dogpatch - the worst neighborhood in Lansing! - she thinks there must be some mistake. Donnie and Nancy, the two young stable-hands, make fun of Patricia's fancy riding outfit, and a scowling old man is watching, from next door. But then Miss Mack herself, with her snakeskin boots and southern drawl, arrives, and Pat meets Penny - a buckskin mare who was "everything that was beautiful about a horse." Gradually, as the summer progresses, Pat becomes an adept rider, wins Donnie and Nancy's respect, and even manages to befriend the scowling next-door-neighbor, Hap. But will she ever ride Penny...?
Miss Mack, named for the author's real-life riding instructor, Miss Bernice MacFadden, is another of those poignant Polacco picture-books based on true events - the kind that inevitably have me sniffling into the pages, on my morning commute. I loved so many things about this story, from the lovably individual Miss Mack, to the beautiful Penny. My heart was in my throat, during certain scenes, in which Penny is ill, and I was deeply moved by the story of Hap - all the more so since it was worked in as just another part of the story. The idea that horses and people can help and love one another, that their relationships can bring healing of all kinds, is everywhere to be seen in this wonderful tale. All in all, another winner from Polacco, one I would particularly recommend to all young horse-lovers!
Miss Mack, named for the author's real-life riding instructor, Miss Bernice MacFadden, is another of those poignant Polacco picture-books based on true events - the kind that inevitably have me sniffling into the pages, on my morning commute. I loved so many things about this story, from the lovably individual Miss Mack, to the beautiful Penny. My heart was in my throat, during certain scenes, in which Penny is ill, and I was deeply moved by the story of Hap - all the more so since it was worked in as just another part of the story. The idea that horses and people can help and love one another, that their relationships can bring healing of all kinds, is everywhere to be seen in this wonderful tale. All in all, another winner from Polacco, one I would particularly recommend to all young horse-lovers!
March 27, 2013
We really enjoy Patricia Polacco's stories and so we look for them often at our local library. Lucky for us, she is a very prolific writer, so we still have a lot of her books to discover.
She has this uncanny ability to tell a story that gets straight to my heart and makes me cry. I was so choked up that I found it difficult to read the last few pages without my voice wavering. The fact that it is a true story and that this was such a defining time in her life is truly touching.
This is another tale from the author's childhood and explains how she first came to learn about horses - how to care for them, ride them, and love them. I thought the story was very poignant and we really enjoyed reading this book together. We will certainly look for more of her books at our local library.
She has this uncanny ability to tell a story that gets straight to my heart and makes me cry. I was so choked up that I found it difficult to read the last few pages without my voice wavering. The fact that it is a true story and that this was such a defining time in her life is truly touching.
This is another tale from the author's childhood and explains how she first came to learn about horses - how to care for them, ride them, and love them. I thought the story was very poignant and we really enjoyed reading this book together. We will certainly look for more of her books at our local library.
July 19, 2018
Memoir of a specific event in the author's childhood. Any book that moves me to tears like this one did receives 5 stars from me.
February 2, 2012
By now I should know that I’m not going to get through a picture book by Patricia Polacco without at least getting choked up—if not outright crying.
Granted, Polacco doesn’t write your typical short picture book for young children. She writes for children of all ages, for anyone who is willing to be touched by her incredible storytelling. She has a knack for writing in a straightforward manner that goes right to the heart.
I thought I would be immune in my latest read. I had picked up her book Mrs. Mack as a Christmas present for a young lady who is very fond of horses. Mrs. Mack is an autobiographical tale set in my hometown of Lansing. It tells of the author’s young days when she would spend the summer with her father in Lansing.
A horselover, Patricia was thrilled when her father told her this would be the summer that she would learn to ride. She was not so thrilled when her father took her to a rough part of Lansing to a stable that was far from what she had been dreaming of.
However, through the course of the summer, Pat learns to ride. She also learns that perhaps the rough-looking kids who call her Hollywood (because she dressed fancy on her first visit) might be worth getting to know. She also falls in love with the horses and with riding under the gentle and wise guidance of Mrs. Mack, the owner of the stable and all the horses in it.
In particular, Patricia falls in love with a copper horse named Penny, a horse that doesn’t warm up to people easily and no one except Mrs. Mack ever rides.
Mrs. Mack has a homey feel about it. It is very much a story told by a woman remembering a summer from long, long ago. She quickly and easily takes us into her heart and viewpoint, and walks us through the events of that summer. While in many authors’ hands such a telling could be awkward or boring, Polacco has a sense for the dramatic and knows just how to balance memory and drama.
Unlike many autobiographical stories, Polacco is able to weave in several subplots and actually follow them through at the end to their natural conclusion. She’s able to tell us what happens to the horses, her fellow riders, and some of the people who hang out near the stables.
I would be hard-pressed to assign an age range to this 40-page book. It is a picture book, but it has more text than many beginning chapter books. Rather than assign an age, I would argue that the book is for anyone who likes good storytelling, who likes to read stories of peoples’ hearts, and loves horses.
While the text is rather lengthy for a read-aloud book, Polacco does break the book up into sections that act as mini-chapters.
The illustrations are very much in Polacco’s own style. They are watercolors that evoke rather than fill in so many details that they wipe out the imagination. Her illustrations help set the mood and further dramatize important elements in the story. They tend to be dark, using many earthy tones and dropping out any non-essentials in the background.
I’m not myself much of a horse person. A severe hay allergy keeps me from being able to be in a stable for any length of time. Perhaps that’s why I thought I’d be immune to tears in this book. When I got to what appeared to be the sad moment in the book, my eyes were still dry. Where Polacco manages to squeeze out your tears is with the unexpected happy moments that tell us anyone can heal and anyone can grow—anyone, that is, who is still able to reach out and touch others.
Granted, Polacco doesn’t write your typical short picture book for young children. She writes for children of all ages, for anyone who is willing to be touched by her incredible storytelling. She has a knack for writing in a straightforward manner that goes right to the heart.
I thought I would be immune in my latest read. I had picked up her book Mrs. Mack as a Christmas present for a young lady who is very fond of horses. Mrs. Mack is an autobiographical tale set in my hometown of Lansing. It tells of the author’s young days when she would spend the summer with her father in Lansing.
A horselover, Patricia was thrilled when her father told her this would be the summer that she would learn to ride. She was not so thrilled when her father took her to a rough part of Lansing to a stable that was far from what she had been dreaming of.
However, through the course of the summer, Pat learns to ride. She also learns that perhaps the rough-looking kids who call her Hollywood (because she dressed fancy on her first visit) might be worth getting to know. She also falls in love with the horses and with riding under the gentle and wise guidance of Mrs. Mack, the owner of the stable and all the horses in it.
In particular, Patricia falls in love with a copper horse named Penny, a horse that doesn’t warm up to people easily and no one except Mrs. Mack ever rides.
Mrs. Mack has a homey feel about it. It is very much a story told by a woman remembering a summer from long, long ago. She quickly and easily takes us into her heart and viewpoint, and walks us through the events of that summer. While in many authors’ hands such a telling could be awkward or boring, Polacco has a sense for the dramatic and knows just how to balance memory and drama.
Unlike many autobiographical stories, Polacco is able to weave in several subplots and actually follow them through at the end to their natural conclusion. She’s able to tell us what happens to the horses, her fellow riders, and some of the people who hang out near the stables.
I would be hard-pressed to assign an age range to this 40-page book. It is a picture book, but it has more text than many beginning chapter books. Rather than assign an age, I would argue that the book is for anyone who likes good storytelling, who likes to read stories of peoples’ hearts, and loves horses.
While the text is rather lengthy for a read-aloud book, Polacco does break the book up into sections that act as mini-chapters.
The illustrations are very much in Polacco’s own style. They are watercolors that evoke rather than fill in so many details that they wipe out the imagination. Her illustrations help set the mood and further dramatize important elements in the story. They tend to be dark, using many earthy tones and dropping out any non-essentials in the background.
I’m not myself much of a horse person. A severe hay allergy keeps me from being able to be in a stable for any length of time. Perhaps that’s why I thought I’d be immune to tears in this book. When I got to what appeared to be the sad moment in the book, my eyes were still dry. Where Polacco manages to squeeze out your tears is with the unexpected happy moments that tell us anyone can heal and anyone can grow—anyone, that is, who is still able to reach out and touch others.
February 27, 2014
"Mrs. Mack" by Patricia Polacco is an inspirational picture book. I am not a horse person; however, my father has become one since the passing of my mother. I could see the therapeutic effects the horses had on "Hap", an older character who was living with the emotional pain of losing his brother. He believed his death had been his fault. As I watched Hap build relationships at Dogpatch Ranch, I was able to picture my father who has taken me to the ranches where he volunteers and rides the homeless horses. The relationship between rider and horse is a strong one. As a former mental health counselor, I have been intrigued by the strong connections between humans and animals. Polacco's beautiful relationship with Penny had a big impact on her life. As in the book, "Thank You,Mr. Falker, she pays tribute to another adult who gave her support as a child. I would use this book as a read aloud for 3rd or 4th graders. It would be a great book to recommend to a student who loves horses. Students can learn several life lessons from this book, including not giving up, and don't judge people before getting to know them. One of my favorite quotes from the book is: "I hadn't wanted to know Donnie and Nancy. Too different! But we were more alike than different, I knew that now."
June 28, 2014
I checked this book out from our library in intentions of reading it either to my 2 year old granddaughter or to my special needs teen age son. Both of which loves animal books. But when I got it, it was a big 'longer' and more detailed than either of them can follow. So I kept it and I sat and read it myself. Oh my, have the tissues handy in the end and I'm not one who cries easily. And what made it even nicer was in the very end there is a note from the author and the girl and situation of the story was her! She told her own story when she was 10 years old and how she learnt more than just 'riding' horses. This story even though is a child's book I would encourage anyone that likes horses, animals, or just people learning compassion and caring and treating each other the way they should. You will quickly get into the story and want to know more. I read it within 15 minutes so wouldn't take very long at all to read, and you will have a tear(s) in your eyes and your heart just full afterward.
October 25, 2011
The picture boo, Mrs. Mack was a decent book. This book is targeted for children in high primary levels. Although the book has a lot of words, I categorized it as a picture book because the pictures are very unique. They are painted with little detail. The faces on some pictures look actually blurred. The book is about a girl named Patricia. She was a horse lover and had to go through the loss of her horse. Although the story is kind of heavy, I think it is appropriate for children in high primary grades. I only scored it with two stars because I cannot personally say I liked the book. It was ok. On the other hand, someone who has a love for horses could really enjoy the book. I think this book could be applicable in the classroom when speaking about grief or sadness and how to deal with it. The plot seems a little drawn out which might lose interest of some children. All in all I feel as though the book could be enjoyable for some children and unenjoyable for some children as well.
September 14, 2014
I like this book because, it has a lot of lessons. I also like this book because I love horses. This book, Mrs. Mack, is about Patricia(Pat) Polacco. She has been waiting ten years for this summer. When she finally gets to ride a horse. But when her dad brings her to the shabby stable in run-down "Dogpatch" She can't believe her eyes! How can she ride here? The tough looking kids and the grouchy-looking neighbor doesn't help either. But when Mrs. Mack with her snakeskin boots and her southern smile, Patricia learns to ride, and make friends at this place. She also falls in love with the bright copper buckskin mare named Penny. Then suddenly, Penny has a virus. If she doesn't get up on her feet, she might die. This heartfelt story is about Pat riding horses,making new friends, and learning a lesson she will never forget.
April 13, 2013
My daughter has been wanting a horse forever, this book did not help. Now, after reading it I want a horse!
Another fantastic personal narrative by Patricia Polacco and her summer spent working at a horse stable/small trails. I loved the message of never giving up and working steadily for your goals. Success is not overnight, especially when it is something that will bring you the most happiness and fulfillment. If you read this book without tearing up, you probably do not have a soul or you hate animals.
Another fantastic personal narrative by Patricia Polacco and her summer spent working at a horse stable/small trails. I loved the message of never giving up and working steadily for your goals. Success is not overnight, especially when it is something that will bring you the most happiness and fulfillment. If you read this book without tearing up, you probably do not have a soul or you hate animals.
June 2, 2015
I think every kid needs a Mrs. Mack in their life, to unite them with animals and draw out their true potential. As a child I used to ride at a place a whole lot like the one described in the book. I kind of miss that era, where kids could still earn rides on horses through a whole lot of hard work.
Not only a good memory, this book nurtures things like work ethic, consideration, not judging by appearances. So many things. But it's still beautifully told and a very enjoyable story to read. Really loved this one.
Not only a good memory, this book nurtures things like work ethic, consideration, not judging by appearances. So many things. But it's still beautifully told and a very enjoyable story to read. Really loved this one.
July 30, 2010
Little Pat spends a memorable summer with her dad and the beloved horses on Mrs. Mack's place. Penny, her beloved horse, and Hap, the grumpy curmudgeon who is "crippled up inside" help forge a change in the ten year old. This is a story of redemption, of lifelong friendship and of perseverance. Bring a hanky and a prepare yourself for a wonderful ride.
*This would be great for my short story days.
*This would be great for my short story days.
November 5, 2012
As I read this book, i wondered why it was called Mrs. Mack and not something like Penny, because the story seemed to be more about the building relationship between Patricia and the horse Penny. But then, as the book progressed and you learned more about Mrs. Mack I became aware of how wonderful this woman was, and all that she did for children in that area. This is a longer narrative than many of Patricia's books, but well worth reading.
September 25, 2008
Mrs. Mack is a heart warming, tearful story of a young girl chasing her dream of riding horses. While Patricia and her brother spend the summer with her father, Patricia finds friends in places she never thought she would. A must read! This book would be great to read aloud to first through third grade class.
December 2, 2009
I think this book is really good it is one of the best books I have ever read in my whole life but I think I misst part of the book but I think the book was still great the part that the horse almost dieed by his own blood I thoght it was pritty pritty good book ashuly funny and very good book it is like the 5 best book Iever read
February 10, 2016
Ten year old Patricia spends her summers with her Dad in Michigan. This summer she hopes to learn how to ride a real horse not a pony. Mrs. Mack owns horses and teaches young children how to care for and ride them. Patricia not only gets to ride her favorite horse Penny she also learns to get along with people who are not like her. This chapter book is ideal for young readers.
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August 25, 2016Young girl wants to learn to ride horses, and her dream finally comes true. But she's not too happy because she is taken to a "dumpier" side of town to begin learning about horses. Eventually she loves where she's at and returns there the seven following summers. This book shows children not to judge a book by its cover in both aspects.
July 27, 2011
you learn to ride a horse by getting back on, and learning to communicate and appreciate the world around you and Pat, learns that and finds that her appreciation not only gives her joy but her dreams as well with out being asked for
March 5, 2016
This book is great for teaching students about first impressions. First impressions are very important, but sometimes they can be very wrong. This book teaches students about perseverance and what it means to work hard.
September 30, 2016
What a good book! All of Patricia Polacco's books are worth the read, but so far this one is my favorite. I love riding horses and this just gave me the sense that I was. Not everyone knows the feeling of a horse and how personal they are so this could help explain it to them.
December 4, 2008
Another great story from Polacco's life that had me all teary-eyed. Share this with all the horse-crazy kids in your life.
June 17, 2009
My daughter loved this one... and even started to cry at one point because she was so into the story - that doesn't happen very often!
May 1, 2010
A wonderful story about a girl chasing her dreams to ride with horses. It would be be great to read-aloud to children of any age.
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March 18, 2010Great book on how horses can help change a kids life
March 13, 2016
Sloane absolutely loved this book. I absolutely love Patricia Polacco, this is not my favorite of her books. It's good, very good - I just like others better.
March 22, 2011
I loved this book. Perfect for any horse-crazy girl, or, even better, any adult who remembers being captivated by horses. May each of them have a Mrs. Mack in their lives.
April 14, 2011
Kind of long, wouldnt recommend reading it to young students. Was a nice story about a family who has to deal with the loss of a loved horse.
June 28, 2011
I'm not a huge horse fan, but this was a wonderful story. It showed growth in the main character and in the supporting characters. It was a heartwarming story from Ms Polacco's life.
January 24, 2012
Another great story by Polacco. Teaches a great lesson of not giving up even if something is hard or scary.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews