The Mud Pony: A Traditional Skidi Pawnee Tale

by Caron Lee Cohen

Book Overview

A Native American tale about a young boy and his magical pony that comes to life. "Splendidly illustrated.... [A] moving, multileveled hero tale." - Kirkus Reviews

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0590415263
• ISBN13: 9780590415262
• Release Date: August 1989
• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 8.0" x 9.9"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Wonderful story about connecting and coming of age

The story begins with a young boy and ends with a leader. In the course of the story, our hero learns to trust his connection to Mother Earth, as personified by the mud pony. The hero first goes through a long journey seeking his people, then a battle to protect his people, and also a buffalo hunt to feed his people. Through trusting the pony, our hero thrives, growing stronger and braver, until he eventually becomes the Chief of his tribe. When our hero no longer needs the pony, who returns to clay, our hero still has his connection to Mother Earth. My three-year-old son loves the Mud Pony and wants to read it over and over again. I am happy to report that it is a pleasure to read over and over again.

Cross curricular integration

This story is a wonderful way to move into working with clay. Just as the boy in the story creates his own horse from clay, allowing children to work with clay immediately after hearing this story gives them a chance to experience kinesthetically what they've heard. Rather than going immediately to reflective or responsive writing, use this step to allow the children to spend more time working it through. Then write.

Praising THE MUD PONY

This book has made a lasting impression on my first graders. They loved the story and delighted in the pastel illustrations, especially of the pony in flight. THE MUD PONY fits perfectly in the study of folklore. It appeals not only to the young mind, but to the more mature person as well. The fantasy is delightful and easily grasped by primary children. It makes a fantastic "Read Aloud" book. Read Aloud is a mandatory part of our San Diego Literacy program. We are encouraged to choose only books that "speak" to the children, that instill in them a desire to read more. Moreover, Native American folklore is a precious genre that should be be incorporated into each grade's literary curriculum. Happily, THE MUD PONY can be included in the Multi-cultural category. My students compared and contrasted it with two other books, THE GIFT and EAGLE FEATHERS, both by Owl Goingback. They used the graphic organizer of a triple-circled Venn Diagram which allows for a marvelous overview of the three books, depicting: characters, settings, themes, authors, and illustrators. The children chose a special picture to depict their favorite selections and drew their own rendition onto the diagram. They also searched for "special words" in each book and added them to the large sheet of manila paper covering the front classroom door. All who pass by can read the titles and the information beneath each. As a long-time veteran of the teaching of reading to students of all ages, I am happy to promote THE MUD PONY. Thank you, Caron Lee Cohen, for a book that appeals to the inner child in all of us.