Pit Pony (novel) facts for kids
First edition cover
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| Author | Joyce Barkhouse |
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| Illustrator | Henry Van Der Linde |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Gage |
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Publication date
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1990 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 116 pp |
| ISBN | 9780771570230 |
| OCLC | 19973684 |
Pit Pony is an exciting historical novel for kids, written by Joyce Barkhouse. It came out in 1990. This book won the very first Ann Connor Brimer Award! Later, Pit Pony was even turned into a TV movie and series.
Story of Pit Pony
The book Pit Pony tells about life in a coal-mining town. This was in Cape Breton around the year 1900. The story also shows how important getting an education is.
It follows an eleven-year-old boy named Willie. His family needed money, so Willie had to work in a coal mine. He worked as a trapper. A trapper opened and closed doors in the mine for the coal carts.
Willie's friend in the mine is Gem, a special Sable Island mare. Gem is a pit pony. Pit ponies were horses that worked underground in mines. Willie and Gem work together every day. A strong friendship grows between the boy and the horse.
The book shows how hard life was for young miners. It was cold, tiring, and scary. The horses faced these dangers too.
Trapped in the Mine
One day, Willie and Gem get trapped deep inside the mine. A "bump" happens. This is when rocks and wood fall, and dust fills the air. Willie has a tough choice to make. He can escape with Gem, or he can save another young miner's life.
Willie chooses to save the other miner. This choice sets Willie free. It means he can leave the mines. He can now go to school and get an education. It turns out that Gem was pregnant. Her baby foal is also saved!
Awards and Recognition
Pit Pony received many honors. The Canadian Library Association called it a notable book. In 1991, it won the first Ann Connor Brimer Award. This award is for great children's books in Atlantic Canada.
Librarians in Nova Scotia all agreed on one thing. They wanted Pit Pony to be made into an audiobook. This "Talking Book" was for the CNIB. It was shared across Canada and around the world.
From Book to Screen
Pit Pony became a movie for CBC-TV in 1997. Cochran Entertainment made the film. The movie won three Gemini Awards. These awards celebrate great Canadian TV shows.
After the movie, Pit Pony became a TV series. It had 44 episodes!
