Title: Black Beauty
Author: Anna Sewell
Publisher: Award Publications
Number of pages: 240
Type of Book: Classic
Age: 8+
Buy it here: http://www.learnington-ng.com/literature/223-black-beauty-by-anna-sewell.html ; https://www.amazon.com/Black-Beauty-Award-Essential-Classics/dp/1841358444
Price: N1500; $15
MY SUMMARY
This book is an autobiography of a vivacious and kind horse, Black Beauty. Told in his voice, it chronicles the joys, pains and highs and lows of his life as he is passed from one owner to the other over the course of fourteen years. His young life as a colt is described as happy and carefree whilst adult life brings with it cruel owners, an accident which scars his knees and makes him lose his status as a fashionable horse for carriages, ushering in the the hard life of pulling cabs and cab drivers and the death of a friend. Black Beauty finally finds a wonderful home in which to live out his days and where he regains the happiness and vigour of his youth as well as his first name! Read the book to see the world through the eyes of a horse!
THUMBS UP AND DOWN
UP: It gives the reader a sneak peek into life in England in the 19th century and also shows readers the world through an animal’s eyes. But most importantly, it makes readers aware of cruelties animals endure from humans.
DOWN: None.
RATING
4 Stars
TRIVIA
- The story is set in 19th century England and was first published in 1877.
- Checkrein: A rein used to keep a horse’s head in the position desired by the rider. In the 19th century, it was quite fashionable to use checkreins to hold horse heads up high. This was incredibly painful for the horses and sometimes caused trauma to their neck, back and spine.
- Some of the names Black Beauty was called by his numerous owners: Black Auster, Jack, Old Crony.
- Beauty’s special features? A shiny white star on her forehead, a single white hoof, an incredibly bright black coat and a small patch of white hair on his back.
- Black Beauty’s favourite pastimes at Birtwick: Running, lying down, nibbling the grass and standing and talking with his friends under the apple tree.
- Beauty’s animal friends: Merrylegs, Ginger, Sir Oliver, Captain.
CHALLENGE: Black Beauty
CREATE (WRITE a Story/Poem OR DRAW)
- Write a 300-word essay on animal cruelty in Nigeria. (8 – 9 year olds)
OR
- Get down on all fours and pretend to be a dog for 10 minutes. Write a 200-word story about the things around you. Use all your senses.
OR
- Draw Black Beauty using only these details:
“My coat had grown fine and soft, and was bright black. I had one white foot and a pretty white star on my forehead. A patch of white hair sparkled right in the middle of my back
culled from Black Beauty by Bendon Classics
- Write a 600-word essay on animal cruelty in Nigeria (10-12 year olds)
OR
- Get down on all fours and pretend to be a cat for 10 minutes. Write a 400-word story about the things around you. Use all your senses.
OR
- Draw Black Beauty using only these details:
“My coat had grown fine and soft, and was bright black. I had one white foot and a pretty white star on my forehead. A patch of white hair sparkled right in the middle of my back
culled from Black Beauty by Bendon Classics
Send your answers to ugochinyelu.anidi@gmail.com
Entry requirements: Entrants must be within the 8-12 age range. The first correct entry will be announced on this page and will win a copy of this book.
Answers must be submitted before 12:00am on Sunday, January 29th 2017.
Next Book of the Week:
THE STORY OF ISLAM by Rob Lloyd Jones
photo credit: amazon.com
U G O . . . .A N I D I 