Brown Sunshine of Sawdust Valley

by Marguerite Henry, Bonnie Shields (Illustrator)

Overview

One of the most beloved of all children’s book writers tells the story of a seemingly worn-out mare, owned by Molly’s family, who is carrying a secret: a baby mule! Young Molly thinks the new creature is the most beautiful thing she’s ever seen. She calls him Brown Sunshine of Sawdust Valley, and as the years go by, Molly discovers that, just like his mother, her mule is full of wonderful surprises.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780689807794
Publisher:	Aladdin
Publication date:	05/01/1998
Edition description:	Repackage
Pages:	112
Sales rank:	508,054
Product dimensions:	5.12(w) x 7.62(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Marguerite Henry (1902–1997) was the beloved author of such classic horse stories as King of the Wind, Misty of Chincoteague, and Stormy, Misty’s Foal, and her work has won several Newbery Awards and Honors.

Editorial Reviews

A new book by Henry, author of the Newbery-winning King of the Wind (1948) and two Newbery Honor books, including Misty of Chincoteague (1947), invites high hopes. Sadly, this slim novel disappoints from the start. When 10-year-old Molly and her father purchase an aging mare at auction, the animal is a far cry from the sprightly young horse the girl has long coveted. Yet with a little care Lady Sue begins to thrive, and brings much happiness to Molly and her parents. Soon she gives birth to Brown Sunshine, a spirited mule who, in an easily foreseen ending, is crowned king of the pivotal Mule Day Celebration. In addition to its predictable plotting, Henry's story suffers from hackneyed characterization (the relentlessly teasing bad boy ends up, in Molly's view, "looking taller and wiser, and more wonderful to me"); awkward writing ("To spend more time with Brown Sunshine, Molly's classroom work improved sharply"); and a grating overuse of exclamation points ("Molly!... we each have our own animal now! The baby mule with the handsome ears is all yours!"). A generous sampling of Shields's realistic line drawings dresses up the text. Ages 8-12. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Gr 3-5Molly Moore wants nothing more than to own a sleek, fancy show horse, so when her family buys a skinny old mare at a local auction, she's very disappointed. In due time, however, the mare blooms with good health and produces a surprise for Molly's familya baby mule. Brown Sunshine becomes a handsome mule, inspiring Molly to write an award-winning essay on the history of these animals. The story is pleasant and predictable, with the somewhat sentimental dialogue and description typical of this genre. The plot moves quickly enough for readers who need encouragement. Black-and-white drawings appear on most pages and capture the action and spirit of the text. A good addition for libraries with avid Henry fans.Christina Linz, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL

School Library Journal

Molly wants a horse of her own, but money is tight in the Moore household, making it unlikely that she'll ever realize her dream. When the sale of an old tractor brings in a windfall, Mr. Moore resolves to buy a present for her tenth birthday. They come away from the weekly horse auction, however, with a skinny, mangy-looking old mare, not the young steed Molly has always envisioned. Back home, Lady Sue is a pleasant surprise; she is not young, but she is a fine, intelligent, well-trained animal. The "weight" Lady Sue puts on turns out to be a foal, and the foal turns out to be a mule, a beautiful, long-haired male with whom Molly falls in love, and whom she proudly names Brown Sunshine of Sawdust Valley. Brown Sunshine proves to be such a quick study that he's chosen to be King Mule at the county's annual Mule Day Celebration.

Vintage Henry (Misty's Twilight, 1992, etc.)—a lighthearted version of the old girl-meets-horse story; only this time, the horse is a mule. That fact will send readers to their encyclopedias to find out more about these much- maligned animals. Shields's black-and-white drawings bring warmth to the story.

Kirkus Reviews