The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses facts for kids
Cover with Caldecott Medallion
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| Author | Paul Goble |
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| Illustrator | Paul Goble |
| Country | United States |
| Genre | Children's picture book |
| Publisher | Bradbury Press, Simon & Schuster |
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Publication date
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1978 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 31 pp |
| ISBN | 978-0-689-71696-6 |
The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses, written and illustrated by Paul Goble, is a children's picture book originally released by Bradbury Press in 1978. It was the recipient of the Caldecott Medal for illustration in 1979. As of 1993, the book has been published by Simon & Schuster.
Contents
Description
The book's 31 pages contains full-color, double-paged pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations, reproduced in combined line and halftone lithograph. The font of the text is set in 12 pt. Century Schoolbook. Each page measures 8"x10".
Plot
The story focuses on a young Native American girl who has a deep affinity for wild horses. She cares for the horses that her tribe relies on for the nomadic hunting of buffalo. One day, the herd stampedes due to a thunderstorm, while the girl is among them. She climbs onto the back of one of the horses, and is carried far away from their usual grazing grounds. The next day, the girl awakes to see a beautiful spotted stallion who identifies himself as the leader of all the wild horses, and welcomes her to live with them. Meanwhile, the girl's tribe searches for her. About one year later, two hunters spot the girl riding with the horses, but she is driven away with the rest of the herd. The hunters return to the tribe with this news, and riders are sent in pursuit. The stallion defends the girl, but she is caught when her horse stumbles. The girl returns home, but is sad to leave the horses. She falls ill with no sign of improvement. The girl asks if she can return, and her parents honor her wish to live among the wild horses again. Each year, she would return to her parents with the gift of a colt. Then one year, she does not return. When the hunters see the wild horses again, they see a mare riding alongside the stallion. They believe this horse to be the girl transformed, which brings the tribe great pride to know they have one of their own riding among them.
Writing and illustration
The book features illustrations with colorful ethnographic imagery of the Plains Indians of North America typical of Goble's work. The artwork features "Goble's trademark style-thin white space outlining the stylized figures in glorious traditional Plains Indian garb". Many of the illustrations depict groups of plants and animals found in the grassland regions of North America, such as prairie dogs, bison, badgers, birds, insects, and lizards. The storytelling and corresponding art combine to show the close relationship with nature typical of traditional Native American myths, folklore, and visual arts.
Awards
The book received the Caldecott Medal for illustration in 1979. It was included in the Scholastic Corporation's "200 for 2000" list of best children's book of the millennium.
