Blind Tom: The Horse Who Helped Build the Great Railroad

by Shirley Raye Redmond, Lois Bradley (Illustrator)

Everyone knows that trains helped build the West, but few know the story of Blind Tom, a sightless workhorse who pulled flatcars for construction crews on the world�s first transcontinental rail-road. Stalwartly pulling his heavy load through rain, mud, and snow, Tom contributed in his own way to American history.
Although Tom was blind, his strength and spirit led him to be chosen as the lead horse for the Union Pacific line. Hardworking, patient, and loyal, he was the pride of the UPRR. Telegraph operators tracked the rail workers� daily progress by asking, �Where�s BlindTom today?� He even became a minor celebrity as reporters around the country picked up the story of the tenacious blind horse.
As informative as it is entertaining, this charmingly illustrated book includes a map of the railroad route, a �Things to Know� page, and a list of museums and Web sites with information about railroad history.

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Shirley Raye Redmond is the author of several "sweet" romance novels and dozens of children's books. Many of her titles have won both national and regional awards. She is a member of numerous writing organizations, including Women Writing the West, Southwest Writers, American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She lives with her family in New Mexico.

Reviews

[Chris Eboch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This nonfiction picture book gives young readers a glimpse into the building of the Intercontinental railroad. The story is especially accessible because of the focus on Blind Tom, a horse. A repetitive pattern of questions and answers should keep children engaged.

[Yvonna Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I use Blind Tom when I'm teaching reading. The repetitive questions help with comprehension and mastery, and the true story about a blind work horse is a natural draw for many children. Best part: the paintings by Lois Bradley. She used a rich Americana style that suits the text perfectly.