"Bridge" Books A

Billy and Blaze: A Boy and His Pony

Book cover: 'Billy and Blaze: A Boy and His Pony'
Author(s):
C.W. Anderson
Copyright or printing year:
1936
Publisher:
Aladdin Paperbacks
Series:
Billy and Blaze
Binding:
Softcover
Number of pages:
56 pages
Subject(s):
Literature
"Bridge" Books A
Grade / Age level:
Grades K-2
Review:

This book is about a boy and his horse. The boy and his horse like to go riding together. He got his horse for his birthday. And later on he saw a dog in the woods and brought it home. My four year old brother likes the story and so do I. I am six years old and I can read it. The other book that we have in the series is called "Blaze and the Indian Cave".

Additional notes:
Reviewer age six
Reviewed By:
Ria Van Hecke
Review Date:
1999
Available From:
your local bookstore

Blaze and the Forest Fire

Book cover: 'Blaze and the Forest Fire'
Author(s):
C.W. Anderson
Copyright or printing year:
1938
Publisher:
Aladdin Paperbacks
Series:
Billy and Blaze
Binding:
Softcover
Number of pages:
50 pages
Subject(s):
Literature
"Bridge" Books A
Grade / Age level:
Grades K-2
Review:

My children have really enjoyed these simple stories about the adventures of a boy and his horse. Best for first through third graders - especially those who become proficient at reading when very young and not able to deal with more complex or mature themes. My oldest daughter fell in love with these books when she was six. She gobbled them up and they were a great bridge for her between easy readers and chapter books. My son, whose reading proficiency grew much more slowly, enjoyed them much later on. Here is a sample of the language:

In a flash Billy had his feet in the stirrups again; and they were off as fast as the faithful pony could go. Blaze was breathing hard now, but the farmhouse was near.

The length is significantly longer than the "easy reader" type books - with approximately 8-12 lines of text per page (charming black-and white illustrations are on every-other page).

In this story, Billy and Blaze discover a forest fire while taking a ride through the woods. They give it their all to go find help - jumping high walls and wide rivers and courage and determination save the day.

Reviewed By:
Alicia Van Hecke
Review Date:
5-23-05
Available From:
your local bookstore

Blaze and the Lost Quarry

Book cover: 'Blaze and the Lost Quarry'
Author(s):
C.W. Anderson
Copyright or printing year:
1991
Publisher:
Aladdin Paperbacks
Series:
Billy and Blaze
Binding:
Softcover
Number of pages:
48 pages
Subject(s):
Literature
"Bridge" Books A
Grade / Age level:
Grades K-2
Review:

Billy visits with a friendly old neighbor who tells him of a quarry he used to visit as a boy the location of which had been lost to the townspeople for many years. With some clues, he and Blaze find the old quarry - a beautiful spot and a great place for swimming. They rescue and befriend a dog.

Reviewed By:
Alicia Van Hecke
Review Date:
5-23-05
Available From:
your local bookstore

Blaze and the Mountain Lion

Book cover: 'Blaze and the Mountain Lion'
Author(s):
C.W. Anderson
Copyright or printing year:
1959
Publisher:
Aladdin Paperbacks
Series:
Billy and Blaze
Binding:
Softcover
Number of pages:
48 pages
Subject(s):
Literature
"Bridge" Books A
Grade / Age level:
Grades K-2
Review:

This book is a bit shorter than others in the series, and so might be a particularly good one for less-confident readers. It seems to average about five lines per page.

In this story, Billy and Blaze search for the lair of a mountain lion that has been troubling ranchers and rescue a baby calf from a ledge on a cliff.

Reviewed By:
Alicia Van Hecke
Review Date:
5-23-05
Available From:
your local bookstore

Blaze and Thunderbolt

Book cover: 'Blaze and Thunderbolt'
Author(s):
C.W. Anderson
Copyright or printing year:
1955
Publisher:
Aladdin Paperbacks
Series:
Billy and Blaze
Binding:
Softcover
Number of pages:
48 pages
Subject(s):
Literature
"Bridge" Books A
Grade / Age level:
Grades K-2
Review:

Billy and Blaze are on a family trip out west where they encounter Thunderbolt - a beautiful wild horse that is the envy of every cowboy. Rather than trying to capture Thunderbolt with fast horses and lassos, Billy makes friends with Thunderbolt slowly and eventually gains his trust.

Reviewed By:
Alicia Van Hecke
Review Date:
5-23-05
Available From:
your local bookstore

Blaze Shows the Way

Book cover: 'Blaze Shows the Way'
Author(s):
C.W. Anderson
Copyright or printing year:
1969
Publisher:
Aladdin Paperbacks
Series:
Billy and Blaze
Binding:
Softcover
Number of pages:
48 pages
Subject(s):
Literature
"Bridge" Books A
Grade / Age level:
Grades K-2
Review:

Billy and Blaze befriend another horse and boy-rider team. Tommy and his horse Dusty are just getting used to each other and Dusty is a little nervous about jumping. Nevertheless they decide to try out for a pairs jumping contest.

Reviewed By:
Alicia Van Hecke
Review Date:
5-23-05
Available From:
your local bookstore
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