Wild Horses: Black Hills Sanctuary

by Cris Peterson Narrated by James Jenner

Overview

In the Black Hills of South Dakota lie eleven thousand acres of breathtaking rangeland and rimrock, canyons and pastures - home to more than three hundred wild mustangs. This preserve was the vision of one man - Dayton Hyde - who conceived of a place where wild horses could live and die in freedom and dignity. Stunning photographs and a richly eloquent text tell the story of Dayton's love of horses and the American West - and how he made this wildlife sanctuary become a reality. Readers will meet horses named Painted Lady and Medicine Hattie, among others. Every year colts are born and older horses die - returning to the earth as their bones are bleached in the sun. This heroic and inspirational tale is told in simple, lucid prose. Conservationists, wildlife advocates, and horse lovers of all ages will rejoice in this story, as well as in the glorious photographs throughout.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

The team behind Amazing Grazing (about environmentally safe ranching) delivers another eye-catching story of unusual interest, this one featuring the wild horses of South Dakota's Black Hills Sanctuary. Framed by ample white space, Upitis's stunning pictures of the sinewy, graceful horses encompass a variety of seasons and times of day; sunsets, nighttime views and golden autumn light evoke a wide appreciation of the majestic setting. Peterson's often poetic prose sets the scene ("This is the land of silver sagebrush and cowboy legends [where] scraggly buzzards perch on fence posts") and describes individual horses, and she judiciously frames the narrative with the story of how "cowboy-conservationist" Dayton Hyde realized his dream of a wild horse preserve. The photos don't always match up with the text. While Petersen writes of Dayton's childhood experiences with horses and gives a straightforward history of mustangs, the photographs continue to show the present-day horses at the sanctuary. If they grapple with a few terms like "conservationist," "rimrock" and "marker mares," used matter-of-factly in the text, the stirring photos and inspiring story could easily prompt readers to deepen their knowledge of the subject. Ages 8-up. (Mar.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-5-In this tribute to the American mustang, a sparse, flowing text melds with vivid color photos to capture the beauty of these creatures and the Black Hills Sanctuary where they live. The pictures of these magnificent animals make it easy for readers to understand why "cowboy-conservationist" Dayton Hyde wanted to save them from being hunted and slaughtered or captured and condemned to live in corrals until they might be lucky enough to be adopted. He procured 11,000 acres of rangeland in South Dakota and created a wild horse sanctuary, allowing the animals that have been sent there since the 1980s to live out their lives in a natural habitat. The brief descriptions of individual horses, accompanied by photos that show their unique markings or other physical traits, give a personal touch to this group of horses. Readers who love these animals will enjoy reading about this wildlife sanctuary and will appreciate learning how one person can make a difference.-Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

From the Publisher

"Engaging photo-essay. . . . The color photographs will captivate readers most. . . . An informative, also inspiring look at the results of one man's conservation efforts." —Booklist

"Readers who love these animals will enjoy reading about this wildlife sanctuary and will appreciate learning how one person can make a difference." —School Library Journal

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170966110
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	11/15/2013
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

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