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Billy & Blaze #5
Blaze and Thunderbolt
Billy and his loyal pony Blaze head west together in another exciting adventure from C. W. Anderson. When their new friend Jim is unable to tame the wild horse Thunderbolt, Billy and Blaze want to help. Fast and elusive, Thunderbolt is not easy to befriend. But with their kind and gentle approach, Billy and Blaze may succeed where the other cowboys have failed. C. W. Anderson's story is one of friendship and adventure, and with his beautiful drawings of Blaze and Thunderbolt, it's sure to be welcomed by young readers everywhere.
Blaze and Thunderbolt is part of the classic Billy and Blaze series. Thoughtful drawings and easy-to-read words capture the warmth and understanding shared by a boy and his horse.
Blaze and Thunderbolt is part of the classic Billy and Blaze series. Thoughtful drawings and easy-to-read words capture the warmth and understanding shared by a boy and his horse.
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1955
2 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
C.W. Anderson
76 books69 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
C.W. Anderson - aka Clarence William Anderson
From Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence...
Clarence William Anderson (1891–1971) was an author and illustrator of children's books. Known professionally as C.W. Anderson, Anderson had an interest in horses and drawing.
Anderson started his career by illustrating for other authors, but eventually began developing texts to accompany his realistic and lively black and white drawings. He is best known for his "Billy and Blaze" book series.
The adventures of Billy and Blaze would revolve around proper care of the horse, while teaching a lesson. Anderson would go to great lengths to give accurate information. He would even go on to write Heads Up, Heels Down as a training tool for young horse lovers. All of the stories Anderson wrote would be based on true stories or people that Anderson knew, only the plots were fiction.
By the end of Anderson's life, he had written and illustrated over thirty-five horse books, and also had created covers for the Saturday Evening Post.
C.W. Anderson - aka Clarence William Anderson
From Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence...
Clarence William Anderson (1891–1971) was an author and illustrator of children's books. Known professionally as C.W. Anderson, Anderson had an interest in horses and drawing.
Anderson started his career by illustrating for other authors, but eventually began developing texts to accompany his realistic and lively black and white drawings. He is best known for his "Billy and Blaze" book series.
The adventures of Billy and Blaze would revolve around proper care of the horse, while teaching a lesson. Anderson would go to great lengths to give accurate information. He would even go on to write Heads Up, Heels Down as a training tool for young horse lovers. All of the stories Anderson wrote would be based on true stories or people that Anderson knew, only the plots were fiction.
By the end of Anderson's life, he had written and illustrated over thirty-five horse books, and also had created covers for the Saturday Evening Post.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 19, 2023
This is the eighth in the Billy & Blaze series. Billy's parents decide to spend a summer vacation on a ranch in the west and they bring Billy's pony Blaze along. What could be more ideal for any horse-loving child?
While there, Billy sees a wild black horse named Thunderbolt who is skittish around the cowboys who try to catch him. Billy and Blaze on the other hand, take their time making friends with Thunderbolt first and they succeed with gentleness where their elders have failed.
A story sure to appeal on many levels. The black and white sketches are excellent and what my equestrian-loving mother-in-law cherished the most about this series. She thought C.W. Anderson was the artist; he is the author as well.
I wanted to read the series in order, but I had to take what the Library had.
While there, Billy sees a wild black horse named Thunderbolt who is skittish around the cowboys who try to catch him. Billy and Blaze on the other hand, take their time making friends with Thunderbolt first and they succeed with gentleness where their elders have failed.
A story sure to appeal on many levels. The black and white sketches are excellent and what my equestrian-loving mother-in-law cherished the most about this series. She thought C.W. Anderson was the artist; he is the author as well.
I wanted to read the series in order, but I had to take what the Library had.
August 31, 2022
I’ve heard of these books but I couldn’t honestly say that they were high on my priority list. I guess it’s a good thing I stumbled upon them at a thrift store recently!
Wow! These are great books for beginning readers - such a notable difference from the vast majority of slop you see published these days. The stories are simple, but not dumb. And oh my dear, the illustrations are some of the best I’ve ever seen! Both horse lovers and horse non-enthusiasts (ha, ha) will thoroughly adore this series!
Add these to your purchase list!
Ages: 4 - 9
Wow! These are great books for beginning readers - such a notable difference from the vast majority of slop you see published these days. The stories are simple, but not dumb. And oh my dear, the illustrations are some of the best I’ve ever seen! Both horse lovers and horse non-enthusiasts (ha, ha) will thoroughly adore this series!
Add these to your purchase list!
Ages: 4 - 9
October 15, 2020
Onvan : Blaze and Thunderbolt - Nevisande : C.W. Anderson - ISBN : 0689717121 - ISBN13 : 9780689717123 - Dar 48 Safhe - Saal e Chap : 1969
December 24, 2010
What amazed me about this book the most was the illustrations, absolutely astonishing. C.W. Anderson really does have a talent.
December 28, 2015
Ellie received this book for Christmas..krb 12/28/15
July 3, 2023
Love the artwork and the storyline! Beautifully done and fun to read!
November 1, 2023
Look, I know this is a children's book, and I know we're just trying to get children interested in horses. But in this book Billy and his horse, Blaze, travel out west to a cowboy ranch. There, they see a wild black stallion named Thunderbolt running around -- no one has been able to catch him. Befriending the wild horse, Billy and Blaze eventually convince Thunderbolt to "jump into" Blaze's pen. Where Thunderbolt then stays... he doesn't run away later even though he jumped in. Suspect.
But then, Billy just randomly jumps on Thunderbolt on DAY TWO of his captivity. Thunderbolt doesn't even buck. Just decides to let Billy ride him. Perfectly. With no prior training.
I know, I know. This is for kids. But let's be honest... kids are stupid and I don't want kids thinking this is really how you break a horse. It is not. I've tried just jumping on a random horse... I fell off (inertia people, inertia). Let's give kids a little bit more reality in these books.
Super short kid's book though.
But then, Billy just randomly jumps on Thunderbolt on DAY TWO of his captivity. Thunderbolt doesn't even buck. Just decides to let Billy ride him. Perfectly. With no prior training.
I know, I know. This is for kids. But let's be honest... kids are stupid and I don't want kids thinking this is really how you break a horse. It is not. I've tried just jumping on a random horse... I fell off (inertia people, inertia). Let's give kids a little bit more reality in these books.
Super short kid's book though.
February 22, 2022
I believe this is the last installment of the adventures of Billy and Blaze, at least, it's the last one my library owns.
I am sorry to see them go. The art is just so beautiful.
This one was much longer than the others. Not only in sheer number of pages, but also in the number of pages. It was all about the patient work Billy went through to befriend the wild horse, Thunderbolt. It made me despair for my generation. We are so impatient and wedded to our devices, I can't imagine the slow contemplation and pursuit of befriending a wild horse. We would probably expect a walk-through, or some viral hack to speed up the process.
Story: Procedural Narrative
Art: Awesome
Price: $4.99
I still can't believe they sold a book with art like this for $5!
I am sorry to see them go. The art is just so beautiful.
This one was much longer than the others. Not only in sheer number of pages, but also in the number of pages. It was all about the patient work Billy went through to befriend the wild horse, Thunderbolt. It made me despair for my generation. We are so impatient and wedded to our devices, I can't imagine the slow contemplation and pursuit of befriending a wild horse. We would probably expect a walk-through, or some viral hack to speed up the process.
Story: Procedural Narrative
Art: Awesome
Price: $4.99
I still can't believe they sold a book with art like this for $5!
July 6, 2019
Reliving my childhood through C. W Anderson's great books. I found this in the discard pile at the library. I just loved these books.
The illustrations are fabulous and make the story. What child didn't want to ride with Billy & Blaze.
Mr. Anderson does a nice job of giving accurate equine skills in the most gentle of ways ensuring the wonderful bond between boy and horse.
I was sorry that Rex, the German Shepard didn't come along for the adventure out west.
The illustrations are fabulous and make the story. What child didn't want to ride with Billy & Blaze.
Mr. Anderson does a nice job of giving accurate equine skills in the most gentle of ways ensuring the wonderful bond between boy and horse.
I was sorry that Rex, the German Shepard didn't come along for the adventure out west.
April 4, 2019
I have enjoyed sharing the Blaze books with my sons. The pencil drawings are beautiful and the text is at a great reading level for elementary students. Blaze and Thunderbolt isn't my favorite of the series as I found it rather unrealistic on most points, but my son thoroughly the adventure of Billy taming a wild horse.
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July 20, 2018I loved these books as a kid. The stories are simple, but great for kids who love animals and horses. The drawings are so beautiful. They may look unassuming because they are black and white, but the horses are very expressive and realistic, which I love!
January 11, 2025
The Billy and Blaze series is great for little kids who love adventure and nature. When we finished the series, my seven year old said “We are DEFINITELY reading those again.” They are treasures that you won’t find on any of the modern children’s book lists.
September 24, 2018
Beautiful! Just like the rest of the stories in the series
October 7, 2020
AR 4.1
December 20, 2020
I loved this book when I was a kid, and I love it even more as an adult!
January 14, 2021
My 3 year old is engaged while reading this series.
April 28, 2022
This series is a complete win in every way!
November 10, 2022
Easy book suitable for kinder-4th grade.
March 20, 2026
Another good, clean title for early readers! Great illustrations, Billy and his horse are the heroes once again!
June 15, 2016
I take online surveys for three or so companies and they usually pay in Amazon gift certificates. This year, instead of hoarding all the gift certificates to buy Christmas presents, I've been blowing them all on books I had when I was a kid and then promptly lost, sold or gave away when I was 29. Recently, I'm glad to report that Blaze and Thunderbolt has returned to me. Mine has a different cover than what is shown here at Goodreads:
This is such a happy book. Good things happen to the good. Logically, I should hate this book. But I don't. It causes me to grin involuntarily, like a facial tic, when I open it up. It has lovely drawings and a very sweet little story about Billy and Blaze befriending a wild horse. The drawings center on the horses and everything else fades to white -- which, come to think of it, is how life SHOULD be.
I did notice that the drawings of Thunderbolt are awful similar to previous drawings of black horses, especially the black horse he drew for Will James' "The Last Catch" in his anthology of horse stories. Well, you gotta do what you gotta do to pay those bills when you illustrate books, I guess.
After all these years I still wonder if Blaze is a bay or a chestnut. When I was a little kid, I was SURE he was a bright bay. Now I have no damn idea. There are such critters as chestnuts with a black mane and/or tail, which just blows what's left of my tiny little mind out of the water.
This is such a happy book. Good things happen to the good. Logically, I should hate this book. But I don't. It causes me to grin involuntarily, like a facial tic, when I open it up. It has lovely drawings and a very sweet little story about Billy and Blaze befriending a wild horse. The drawings center on the horses and everything else fades to white -- which, come to think of it, is how life SHOULD be.
I did notice that the drawings of Thunderbolt are awful similar to previous drawings of black horses, especially the black horse he drew for Will James' "The Last Catch" in his anthology of horse stories. Well, you gotta do what you gotta do to pay those bills when you illustrate books, I guess.
After all these years I still wonder if Blaze is a bay or a chestnut. When I was a little kid, I was SURE he was a bright bay. Now I have no damn idea. There are such critters as chestnuts with a black mane and/or tail, which just blows what's left of my tiny little mind out of the water.
June 30, 2011
This is a cute story that echoes the dreams little boys once had to be cowboys riding the open range. Billy listens to Jim with respect and treats his horse, and Thunderbolt, with care. It is a story that will remind adult readers of a simpler time.
All text is on the left side of the book, while all illustrations are on the right. Each page of story is accompanied by greatly detailed black and white drawings. From the folds in the jeans of the cowboy to the rippling muscles of the running horse, the illustrations are works of art.
Continue reading on Examiner.com Blaze and Thunderbolt by C.W. Anderson--a review - San Francisco fiction | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/fiction-in-sa...
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August 28, 2011For kids who dream about horses, C.W. Anderson's wonderful illustrations and text make the reader a part of Billy and his loyal horse Blaze's adventures. He wrote many books in this series so the reader looks forward to the next location and event: quarries, caves, and even a forest fire. Memories of a simpler time and place make the reader reminisce, especially adults reading this again to children.
December 9, 2011
LOVE C.W. Anderson's illustrations! (side note: realized upon rereading, love how Billy family goes on vacation out west and Billy is not only allowed to take his pony, but to go advendturing all day by himself and befriend wild mustangs)
January 28, 2008
The first series I ever read! I love these books most of all!
July 20, 2009
Slightly stodgy writing? Who cares! The illustrations are so, so lovely. A must for any young horse lover.
August 9, 2012
Another enjoyable Blaze book.
September 12, 2012
Check out my review at www.littlebooksontheprairie.wordpress...!
October 4, 2012
Billy and Blaze head west and Billy finds himself owning 2 horses instead of one. The best horse in the country is now Billy's horse
October 28, 2012
Makes me want to have a horse.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews