What do you think?
Rate this book
Riding the Pony Express
Book by Bulla, Clyde Robert
95 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1948
9 people are currently reading
420 people want to read
About the author
Clyde Robert Bulla
100 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.”
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
February 12, 2016
Exactly what you should expect from a 1948 book about the taming of the west (and its inhabitants). Great pictures.
October 5, 2020
Bulla is a genius. This is one of his earliest books. In 14 chapters (96 pages), he tells a full story with several unexpected twists that provides historical information in an age-appropriate way as well as demonstrating a variety of interpersonal relations. Plus he writes his own little songs to go along with the story, which are included with piano accompaniment! These are within the capabilities of young players, but certainly could be also sung by children while an adult plays.
While the summary here implies that this is a book about three children, to me it is at least as much about the relationships between Dick and various adults: his absent aunt, his father, Sam Harper, Mr. and Mrs. Kelly. These are not one-dimensional characters but instead have subtleties and nuances that develop over the course of the story. We see a range of realistic interactions with Indians, from prejudice to respect, acceptance, and friendship. This book has a few things in common with the Little House series, but they are more complementary than redundant.
There are several situations in the story that are a little hard to believe, at least one relying upon a coincidence that is practically deus ex machina. The reader might be lulled into a sense of security, thinking that our protagonist will coast through his young life. Then chapter 12 hits and all bets are off.
I intend to grab anything else of Bulla's that I can find. He has not disappointed yet.
Illustrations by Grace Paull are fine, not outstanding, but do the job well.
While the summary here implies that this is a book about three children, to me it is at least as much about the relationships between Dick and various adults: his absent aunt, his father, Sam Harper, Mr. and Mrs. Kelly. These are not one-dimensional characters but instead have subtleties and nuances that develop over the course of the story. We see a range of realistic interactions with Indians, from prejudice to respect, acceptance, and friendship. This book has a few things in common with the Little House series, but they are more complementary than redundant.
There are several situations in the story that are a little hard to believe, at least one relying upon a coincidence that is practically deus ex machina. The reader might be lulled into a sense of security, thinking that our protagonist will coast through his young life. Then chapter 12 hits and all bets are off.
I intend to grab anything else of Bulla's that I can find. He has not disappointed yet.
Illustrations by Grace Paull are fine, not outstanding, but do the job well.
Read
February 4, 2020I loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 18, 2019
Hmmm. Squirt is just getting to the point where chapter books are fun. I thought learning about the Pony Express might be interesting. There was adventure and excitement, yes, but I felt that the author took some sloppy plot paths, and Little Bear - I don't even know what to say - a cheap stereotype. Left a bad taste in my mouth. It could've been worse, yes, but it could've been SO much better.
November 20, 2013
Any book you can read by Clyde Robert Bulla will be time well spent. He is a children's writer who was writing before I was born. This book is about a boy whose father rode for the Pony Express, and once the boy had to fill in for him. Gives much good information about the Pony Express.
September 26, 2023
Why don't more people know about Clyde Robert Bulla? His books are excellent beginning readers for second and third grade. They're also perfect for older kids who are just learning to read or who are learning English as a second language. Here's why:
The writing is easy and simple, but the stories are exciting and full of drama. The prose is easy to read, and his books are incredibly short, so this really cancels out the intimidation factor. But the stories are MUCH more mature than Dr. Seuss or Mo Willems, so older kids can read them without feeling self-conscious.
There are always complex characters who contain a mix of good and evil. In this book, Mr. Kelly is the complex character. He's a hard, stingy man at times, and he makes some poor choices, but we also see him be loving and kind as well.
In a Bulla book, the protagonist is usually a young person who is struggling to understand life and his/her place in it. This makes the stories relatable to an older audience. His books aren't about birds trying to find their mothers or mice making friends at school.
PLUS, many of his best books are works of historical fiction. You can add them into nearly any history curriculum you're doing for homeschool, and they'll make history come alive for your student.
The more of Bulla's books that I read, the more I like them.
The writing is easy and simple, but the stories are exciting and full of drama. The prose is easy to read, and his books are incredibly short, so this really cancels out the intimidation factor. But the stories are MUCH more mature than Dr. Seuss or Mo Willems, so older kids can read them without feeling self-conscious.
There are always complex characters who contain a mix of good and evil. In this book, Mr. Kelly is the complex character. He's a hard, stingy man at times, and he makes some poor choices, but we also see him be loving and kind as well.
In a Bulla book, the protagonist is usually a young person who is struggling to understand life and his/her place in it. This makes the stories relatable to an older audience. His books aren't about birds trying to find their mothers or mice making friends at school.
PLUS, many of his best books are works of historical fiction. You can add them into nearly any history curriculum you're doing for homeschool, and they'll make history come alive for your student.
The more of Bulla's books that I read, the more I like them.
November 2, 2019
My 8 year old son told me this was his new favourite book, so I picked it up to see what the big deal was. I couldn't put it down! What a great little book. Every boy should read this. There is so much wisdom and goodness in this story that our culture has tried very hard to forget recently.
Thankfully there is much that is innate in human nature which will ever resonate with stories like Riding the Pony Express.
Thankfully there is much that is innate in human nature which will ever resonate with stories like Riding the Pony Express.
May 27, 2021
I loved this book 📖 so much.
The little boy was so brave.
The little boy was so brave.
January 10, 2022
Its super nice
🏇🏇🐎🐎🐎🐴🐴
🏇🏇🐎🐎🐎🐴🐴
June 26, 2015
Riding the Pony Express was a very happy story. It shows how a little boy and his father be together and have a happy life. Even though his father is a pony express rider they meet together and help each other out. I recommend this to kids who like stories that have adventure and with kids who are brave.
This book is an old book from the library. Nobody checked it out so I got it for free. This book though was very VERY good. So I think everyone, kids and adults, should check out old books in the children's department so the library can keep these books active.
As the old saying goes DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER.
This book is an old book from the library. Nobody checked it out so I got it for free. This book though was very VERY good. So I think everyone, kids and adults, should check out old books in the children's department so the library can keep these books active.
As the old saying goes DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER.
April 6, 2024
Riding the Pony Express by Clyde Robert Bulla c. 1948
An exciting historical fiction book for middle grade readers (8-12 years) from the early days of the American West. Before the transcontinental telegraph was completed, the mail took weeks or even months to travel from the east to the west coast. It could go by overland stage, which took a month or longer, or it could go by ship around South America and thence to California. With the Civil War approaching, communication was needed to connect the far-flung parts of our nation.
(Not from the book: In 1860, a couple of partners from an overland freight company bought 400 ponies and established 200 relay stations. They hired staff and riders. Riders had to be small and light to keep from weighing the horses down. Horses traveled 10-15 miles between stations, and riders changed horses frequently, usually riding 75-100 miles in a shift. It was a dangerous job due to weather, native attacks, and other unforeseen dangers of the trail, so riders were well paid.)
Saint Joseph, Missouri was chosen as a starting point because it was connected to the east by telegraph and railroad. In this story, a young boy is sent from his New York relatives to live with his father in St. Jo. Unfortunately, his father doesn't get the message because he has been hired on with the Pony Express and no longer lives in St. Jo. But one of his father's friends finds him and helps to hook him up with his father.
At first, Dick hates the prairie. He hates that his father is gone so much. He hates that he has to work taking care of the horses to earn his keep. In a sort of gradual process, he begins to accept his new life, and even to embrace it. Eventually, he "wins his spurs" so to speak, and comes full circle as an emergency rider for the Pony Express.
A good story about a brief period in American History, but a great illustration of American ingenuity and courage in the face of danger.
An exciting historical fiction book for middle grade readers (8-12 years) from the early days of the American West. Before the transcontinental telegraph was completed, the mail took weeks or even months to travel from the east to the west coast. It could go by overland stage, which took a month or longer, or it could go by ship around South America and thence to California. With the Civil War approaching, communication was needed to connect the far-flung parts of our nation.
(Not from the book: In 1860, a couple of partners from an overland freight company bought 400 ponies and established 200 relay stations. They hired staff and riders. Riders had to be small and light to keep from weighing the horses down. Horses traveled 10-15 miles between stations, and riders changed horses frequently, usually riding 75-100 miles in a shift. It was a dangerous job due to weather, native attacks, and other unforeseen dangers of the trail, so riders were well paid.)
Saint Joseph, Missouri was chosen as a starting point because it was connected to the east by telegraph and railroad. In this story, a young boy is sent from his New York relatives to live with his father in St. Jo. Unfortunately, his father doesn't get the message because he has been hired on with the Pony Express and no longer lives in St. Jo. But one of his father's friends finds him and helps to hook him up with his father.
At first, Dick hates the prairie. He hates that his father is gone so much. He hates that he has to work taking care of the horses to earn his keep. In a sort of gradual process, he begins to accept his new life, and even to embrace it. Eventually, he "wins his spurs" so to speak, and comes full circle as an emergency rider for the Pony Express.
A good story about a brief period in American History, but a great illustration of American ingenuity and courage in the face of danger.
July 18, 2025
An easy reader that follows a young boy's adventures as he travels out west and becomes a part of the Pony Express team.
This starts out like a Disney movie plot, young boy, Dick Park, who is living with his Aunt out east is shipped off to his dad who is living in the west (we don't know why he's been sent, but tension is implied), but when he arrives his dad isn't living where Dick thought he did. However, a friend of Dick's dad does live there, and is able to forward Dick to the section on the Pony Express route that his dad is working. This is where I find it gets interesting, instead of Dick becoming a rider for the Pony Express (or finding out he's an orphan and having no choice but to work as a Pony Express rider) he becomes part of one of the waystations that helps care for the horses and riders on their journey. There are also some different dynamics between locals than is seen in your typical "western" which helped keep the story interesting and less predictable, and with the copyright over 75 years ago has a style that makes it feel more authentic to me. It also has some short trail songs with their music sprinkled throughout, however, these are not "easy" songs as they have flats and 16th notes, so not easy for a beginner musician to play.
Content notes: Some non-politically correct language referring to people by skin tone or race; a grumpy man who is often short with people, though he does apologize for it. No sensuality issues; there is a young girl at the station too, but she and Dick are just friends. Peril and danger from unscrupulous men and from the elements, with some close calls but no permanent damage.
March 5, 2019
As a story of the Pony Express, it is interesting and exciting; however the depiction of "Indians" is questionable. There is one kind Native American boy, but the rest of his family are horse stealers. "Most of them are our friends. But farther West the Indians are not so friendly. Some of them would scalp any Pony Express rider they caught." White and native relations aren't the centre of the story, so it's not surprising that the view isn't very nuanced and the Native American perspective isn't considered.
January 25, 2021
I really appreciated the beautiful way the writer gently introduced us to the history of the pony express. The language was simple (my 2nd grader could have easily read this on her own), yet charming enough to be enjoyed as a read aloud. This is one perspective on the pony express. It showed some animosity towards an Native American but it also showed love and a change of heart. I borrowed this from the public library but will probably add this to our personal library because I feel like it's rare to find a historical novel for very young children that is done well.
October 6, 2021
I have to provide a caveat to this five-star review. I had never heard of this book - it came as part of our reading curriculum this year. My son enjoyed the book and I always let him pick how many stars to give the books we read together but this book has a serious racism problem that required some extra discussion with my 8-year-old. If you are looking for historical fiction to read with your kids I would probably recommend skipping this one (or prepare ahead of time to have some discussions about racist portrayals of Native Americans in western literature).
May 24, 2019
This was sitting next to Windy Hill, so I read it too. It's a simple bit of adventure and historical fiction about the pony express. I think my son read this aloud to me once upon a time (9 or 10 years ago), but I didn't remember it very well. Not fabulous, but good and enjoyable accomplishment for a young reader.
Read
April 1, 2020My grandson who is 8 is currently reading this book to me through facetime as part of his home schooling program. As I don't have a copy of this book I can't follow him while he is reading it. He gets very involved in the story when reading it. As we only do 4 chapters a day, I look forward to the next day so that he can continue the story.
June 14, 2017
Short and sweet, the kids loved it.
June 20, 2018
Read aloud to Ben. Kind of a weird book -- the dad is weird -- but at least we learned a little about the Pony Express?
April 11, 2019
(with Ben)
September 15, 2020
Read for school, 3rd grade curriculum. My first grader really enjoyed it and said it was, "adventurous!" A fun historical fiction that lends itself to geography and history lessons.
November 18, 2020
Fun little book that gives a sweet picture of life in the Pony Express. Definitely worth reading as you study 1800s America.
April 8, 2021
Owens review: loved it. There was so much action. I liked that there were guns. And wolves chasing the horse (that really does happen sometimes). It was a really good book.
May 3, 2021
📖 Read w/ Grace
May 20, 2021
I really liked it because I love ponies
November 18, 2021
I did not really like this book.It was just boring.I do not recommend this book.
January 10, 2022
Like it cool book!
Read
February 26, 2022I read this forever ago and forgot to rate it. I was a kid. I really enjoyed it though.
April 26, 2022
James really liked the excitement and adventure of this book. He started telling me specifics of what he liked, but it was basically the entire story, so I will just say that he loved it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews