Thunderhoof

by Syd Hoff

Thunderhoof, a wild horse, refuses to be tamed by the cowboys but misses their company after they give up and turn him loose.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Westerns, Horses

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Whether you’re seven or seventy, the chances are you’ve probably come in contact with one of his many books (150 plus), or cartoons that have appeared in over 200 magazines in the course of his lifetime, including Laugh it Off which was syndicated for 20 years. His comic strip Tuffy, about a little girl who did funny things, was declared essential for national morale during WWII by William Randolph Hearst.

Syd has worked in diverse genres. He had the distinct honor of working with Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen as a contributor of short fiction writing. He was awarded national advertising commissions for large companies such as Chevrolet, Maxwell House Coffee and others. He had his own TV show (Tales of Hoff on CBS), traveled the world as entertainment on cruise ships and entertained children and teachers in schools and libraries across the country.

Reviews

[Mischenko]

Another great Syd Hoff book. Thunderhoof the horse discovers where he wants to be and what he wants to do in this colorfully illustrated book.

5*****

[Kellyanne Higgins]

This was my first favourite book! It's a great tale of freedom and independence verses love and security.

[Joy Gerbode]

Another good one from Syd Hoff (a favorite of mine), demonstrating the struggle between independence and loneliness. Shows in a very simple way how love and friendship is more important.

[Sandy]

He’s a wild horse that shook off any rope that came near him. A fast horse that didn’t want to be caught, he loved his freedom. Unfortunately, one day he wakes up to a dry riverbed. He gets so weak that they’re able to get a rope around his neck and Thunderhoof cannot shake it off. Thunderhoof has now been caught! Back at the ranch, they take good care of him, yet no one can ride him. Thunderhoof keeps knocking them off. They let him go and he’s FREE! He’s a wild horse again sleeping under the blue sky. Yet now…..he’s sad. He misses the individuals at the ranch, so Thunderhoof goes back to the ranch. The ranchers put a saddle on him again and attempt to ride him. This time things are different.

I just came across this book which is amazing since it was copyrighted in 1971. I liked the simple pictures as they accompanied the text very nicely. The text was big and simple with short sentences. The story had meaning and I liked the facial expressions. I’m glad I found this one to share with the grandkids. 5 stars

[Kathy Piselli]

One of Hoff's I Can Read books that does NOT take place in a city. The happy go lucky horse looks so sprightly as he dodges out of the clutches of the cowboys, but then like many of Hoff's animal escapees, ends up coming back after a brush with death, realizing "He missed having someone brush him, rub his nose, take the burrs out of his mane, and say 'Nice horse, nice old feller'." Don't we all?

[Anthony]

Thunderhoof was a stallion that no one could catch, he ran wild and free. During a drought he became weak, and was finally captured, but after being nursed back to health he was set free. Thunderhoof once free made a decision that startled everyone at the ranch.

[Danette]

2/26/19 Read with Julia

[Dawn]

Thunderhoof is a wild horse who cannot be captured or tamed. And then there is a drought. Will Thunderhoof give up his freedom in exchange for an easy life?

[Hans]

Reading through a stack of books from childhood. Thunderhoof, like the gorilla Julius, finds a new home thanks to a touch of Stockholm syndrome.

[Danny]

I remember when this came out and we read it to our children when they were little.

[Sara]

It was cute but I can’t see why a horse would choose captivity just because he likes his nose rubbed.

[Kyle Morgan]

Absolutely adorable.

[Red Ball]

Though I am doing my best to be impartial, my review for Thunderhoof is clouded by nostalgia. My mother used to read this book to me and would pet my nose and tell me “nice horse, nice old feller” when the cowboys would do the same to Thunderhoof. Whenever I hear the phrase “Don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys” I think of the book’s dedication, where author and illustrator Syd Hoff honors his father who “refused” his dream of becoming a cowboy, instead of the famous song.

Nostalgia aside, I still enjoy reading Thunderhoof. It is quite simple, as denoted by a ribbon on the cover declaring it “an EARLY I CAN READ Book”. The art is also uncomplicated, as Hoff uses a limited color palette with plain illustrations. The eponymous horse is happy and free until a drought makes him feeble enough to be caught. The cowboys take good care of him but Thunderhoof refuses to be ridden and is set free. Although Thunderhoof now has a replenished river to drink from, he misses the cowboys and goes back to receive their care.

The premise seems simple enough but hits on more complex topics like environmental vs. emotional needs and domestication. As a child, I believed Thunderhoof enjoyed his human companions and that is why he chose to return. As an adult, it seems like the humans have taken away all of the other horses that could have been Thunderhoof’s companion. The book begins with “Way out West, one great horse still ran wild”, implying something has happened that made Thunderhoof the last wild horse.

This is the only Syd Hoff book I have read and it appears to be out of print. (I own a well-loved copy that turns fifty this year!) I was unaware of Hoff’s more famous children’s books and surprised by his political cartoons. I am disappointed that it is not easily accessible today, as Thunderhoof is a quick but memorable read.

[Luisa Knight]

I love Syd Hoff's illustrations and you can't really go wrong with his stories either. This one's fun for your cowboy/horse lovin' readers!

Reading Level: K - 3rd grades

**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.

[Lillie]

It's a great story and very fun!

[Frank]

Frank really enjoyed this story. I think, in general, you can't go wrong with a Syd Hoff book.

[Alis]

This is a cute story. Great for horse-loving kids everywhere.

[Leila]

Poor Thunderhoof just wants to run free but people capture him and try to ride his wild spirit, but without his freedom, Thunderhoof's spirit is broken. Great book.

[Superreader200]

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