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Three Dollar Mule
A boy finds himself the owner of a mule that likes children but is very hostile to adults--to the parents' dismay and the boy's delight, all attempts to sell the animal fail
94 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1960
1 person is currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Clyde Robert Bulla
102 books99 followersBorn to be a Writer
Almost as far back as he can remember, Clyde Robert Bulla wanted to write. Born on a farm in a small town in Missouri, Mr. Bulla's first school was a one-room country schoolhouse. One day his teacher asked each first grade student what he or she would do with a thousand dollars. Young Clyde answered that he would buy a table. His classmates laughed heartily, and his teacher was puzzled. “What I really meant,” says Mr. Bulla, “is a desk or other flat surface on which to write my stories!”
First Stories
Mr. Bulla's first piece of writing was titled, “How Planets Were Born.” The ambitious opening sentence was, “One night old Mother Moon had a million babies.” All through school, Mr. Bulla continued to write stories mostly, but plays and poetry, too. After years of gathering editor's rejection slips, Mr. Bulla sold a magazine story, then several more. Soon after, Mr. Bulla wrote a novel and a publisher accepted it.
The Difficult Years
In the excitement of publishing a novel, Mr. Bulla wrote two more books. Unfortunately, no one wanted to publish them. His luck took a turn for the worse when the publisher of his first book went bankrupt. For several years, he worked at a local weekly newspaper where he struggled with linotype, kept books, collected bills, and wrote a weekly column.
Success!
A couple of Mr. Bulla's weekly columns caught the attention of a well-known author and illustrator of children's books. She wrote to Mr. Bulla, suggesting that he try writing a children's book. He immediately sent her a manuscript for a children's book he'd written a year before. Within one week, an editor of a New York publisher read the manuscript,and it was accepted. The book was The Donkey Cart, published in 1946. Since then, Mr. Bulla has written over twenty books for children, as well as the music for several children's song books.
About The Chalk Box Kid
“When I was young,” explains Mr. Bulla, “I sometimes found it hard to cope in new surroundings, and I was apt to get off on the wrong foot. This is the story of a boy who got off on the wrong foot in a new school and how he tried to cope.” In describing the chalk garden, Mr. Bulla says, “I gave Gregory something I've always wished for: a big, blank wall that I could cover with my own drawings.”
Almost as far back as he can remember, Clyde Robert Bulla wanted to write. Born on a farm in a small town in Missouri, Mr. Bulla's first school was a one-room country schoolhouse. One day his teacher asked each first grade student what he or she would do with a thousand dollars. Young Clyde answered that he would buy a table. His classmates laughed heartily, and his teacher was puzzled. “What I really meant,” says Mr. Bulla, “is a desk or other flat surface on which to write my stories!”
First Stories
Mr. Bulla's first piece of writing was titled, “How Planets Were Born.” The ambitious opening sentence was, “One night old Mother Moon had a million babies.” All through school, Mr. Bulla continued to write stories mostly, but plays and poetry, too. After years of gathering editor's rejection slips, Mr. Bulla sold a magazine story, then several more. Soon after, Mr. Bulla wrote a novel and a publisher accepted it.
The Difficult Years
In the excitement of publishing a novel, Mr. Bulla wrote two more books. Unfortunately, no one wanted to publish them. His luck took a turn for the worse when the publisher of his first book went bankrupt. For several years, he worked at a local weekly newspaper where he struggled with linotype, kept books, collected bills, and wrote a weekly column.
Success!
A couple of Mr. Bulla's weekly columns caught the attention of a well-known author and illustrator of children's books. She wrote to Mr. Bulla, suggesting that he try writing a children's book. He immediately sent her a manuscript for a children's book he'd written a year before. Within one week, an editor of a New York publisher read the manuscript,and it was accepted. The book was The Donkey Cart, published in 1946. Since then, Mr. Bulla has written over twenty books for children, as well as the music for several children's song books.
About The Chalk Box Kid
“When I was young,” explains Mr. Bulla, “I sometimes found it hard to cope in new surroundings, and I was apt to get off on the wrong foot. This is the story of a boy who got off on the wrong foot in a new school and how he tried to cope.” In describing the chalk garden, Mr. Bulla says, “I gave Gregory something I've always wished for: a big, blank wall that I could cover with my own drawings.”
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 15, 2022
This was a good kid's book, but predictable.
February 16, 2024
I usually enjoy books by Clyde Robert Bulla, and this was no exception. Realistic story of farm life. The children are respectful to parents, even when not necessarily understanding or agreeing with their father's perspective, and they make an effort to solve their problem. A couple brief mentions of "horse whispering."
This would be a good book for children beginning to read chapter books. It has large-ish type, illustrations, and is just 94 pages long.
This would be a good book for children beginning to read chapter books. It has large-ish type, illustrations, and is just 94 pages long.
July 24, 2025
So I read this short children's book this morning and it's a much deeper story than one would think. It's about doing the right thing and rescuing an abused animal. And that is exactly what Don does in here. He buys a mule for just $3 from a man who was hitting it with a whip.
But the trouble starts when Don's father comes home. They already live on a cattle ranch but his father has this totally idiotic idea in his head about looks!!
Ooooohhh... I literally hated his father!!
His father is shallow, stupid and can see no use for the mule. So of course he wants to get rid of it. Because apparently only expensive horses with glossy costs are good.. and it just has to be a thoroughbred too! If you want a loathsome character in a book this is it!
And Don really wants that beautiful horse named Ben Gold for his birthday...but his father won't buy him the horse because of the annoying, trouble making, loud braying mule! Uh oh... And trust me, Sinbad must have graduated from some high ranking Trouble Making school because he sure creates the chaos on the ranch!!
This was fun to read. I found myself thinking up ways of how Sinbad the mule could be useful and I so wanted to tell Don about it, but of course you can't. But in the end Don kind of solved it himself (by accident).
I have always enjoyed reading these kid's books... They can be very relaxing and they make great breaks in between bigger books. Extra bonus if they are about equines!
Oh I also enjoyed the illustration in here too.
But the trouble starts when Don's father comes home. They already live on a cattle ranch but his father has this totally idiotic idea in his head about looks!!
Ooooohhh... I literally hated his father!!
His father is shallow, stupid and can see no use for the mule. So of course he wants to get rid of it. Because apparently only expensive horses with glossy costs are good.. and it just has to be a thoroughbred too! If you want a loathsome character in a book this is it!
And Don really wants that beautiful horse named Ben Gold for his birthday...but his father won't buy him the horse because of the annoying, trouble making, loud braying mule! Uh oh... And trust me, Sinbad must have graduated from some high ranking Trouble Making school because he sure creates the chaos on the ranch!!
This was fun to read. I found myself thinking up ways of how Sinbad the mule could be useful and I so wanted to tell Don about it, but of course you can't. But in the end Don kind of solved it himself (by accident).
I have always enjoyed reading these kid's books... They can be very relaxing and they make great breaks in between bigger books. Extra bonus if they are about equines!
Oh I also enjoyed the illustration in here too.
June 9, 2016
Have you ever noticed that there aren't enough books about mules in the universe? There are more than enough books about horses or even donkeys to fill many parallel universes, but mules get shafted. Here they finally get a time in the spotlight.
I've only read a handful of books by Clyde Robert Bulla but this is the simplest of the handful. I think it was aimed for a crowd much younger than my 46 years. I still enjoyed it. Bulla was the Ernest Hemingway of children's fiction -- except there weren't as many depressing endings.
Moral of the story: Doing the right thing can get you in big trouble. Do the right thing anyway. That and mules are awesome. We should elect a mule as President. We may actually get something done in Congress for a change.
I've only read a handful of books by Clyde Robert Bulla but this is the simplest of the handful. I think it was aimed for a crowd much younger than my 46 years. I still enjoyed it. Bulla was the Ernest Hemingway of children's fiction -- except there weren't as many depressing endings.
Moral of the story: Doing the right thing can get you in big trouble. Do the right thing anyway. That and mules are awesome. We should elect a mule as President. We may actually get something done in Congress for a change.
November 11, 2017
My younger brother recently passed away and my mom and I were going through school work of his from when he was a little boy that she had saved. On several assignments, he mentioned the Three Dollar Mule as his favorite book. Though it is now out of print, I ordered a used copy. It's a precious story about a boy named Don and the mule he comes to own that no one finds value or worth in except for Don. Good message and sweet ending. Would recommend to kids around 3rd grade.
March 31, 2018
Simple book for children with good modeling.
May 3, 2023
A decent childrens book to read when stuck in the mar vista public library …
Sinbad gets a bad rap in this one :/
Sinbad gets a bad rap in this one :/
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April 17, 2024Read aloud with the kids. Clara especially enjoyed this one. Every time I asked if she wanted to take a break she said “No!”
August 25, 2025
A short chapter book ideal for lower school readers. Don learns responsibility and protects a mule from abuse.
October 20, 2025
This was a quick read to help me get out a reading slump. It was a cute story about this mule that was bought by a farm boy. The reason for the 3 stars out of 5 is because it was a quick read and did not give great detail about the mule.
February 10, 2023
My five year old boy asked to keep reading after each chapter. At the end he grinned and asked immediately “let’s start reading it again right now!” Sweet little story with a heart warming ending.
January 29, 2024
Don has his eye on a thoroughbred named Ben Gold. He is hoping that he can earn enough money so when his birthday comes his father will give him the rest. Then one day, while coming home from work, Don and his sister, Jenny, find a man beating a mule. The man sells Don the mule before Don even realizes what's happening. Sinbad wakes the family with his braying and Don's father insists that Don give the mule back but the man won't refund Don's $3. He won't even take the mule for nothing. Don knows that his father is unhappy having a mule on the ranch. In the ensuing days and weeks, Sinbad causes so much trouble that Don has to take him into the ranch's timber and leave him there. Then, a storm comes while Jenny walks in the woods with some relatives. Don goes to find them, but suffers a devastating accident. Sinbad finds him and keeps him alive until help comes.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
February 18, 2014
A simple, gentle contemporary story of a boy who loves animals, especially horses. Don will be twelve on his next birthday and is hoping he will receive the thoroughbred horse from the ranch next to his own he is in love with. But one day he rescues a mule from being whipped and after bringing it home its antics cause the father to make Don prove the mule's use, or perhaps he isn't old enough to care for a horse. A tender story as Don realises the mule has probably been abused by men in the past and puts the mule's well being before his own wants and desires. An emotional story with plotting and much insight, especially when considered the low reading level the book is written for; something Bulla excels at. The Lantz illustrations are detailed and realistic.
November 22, 2007
stupid, read when i was like 6
May 28, 2008
Very easy read and good plot
May 12, 2011
My Favorite Child hood book. Read it over and over again. I would looove to get my hands on this so I can read it again as an adult. ughh Takes me back.
October 10, 2012
My 5 yr old and 8 year old found this book interesting.
January 24, 2022
Well written early reader. Don faces some difficult choices, but he does what is right and is rewarded in the end.
December 28, 2009
I read this book as a boy. The story was OK.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews