Mister Penny's Race Horse

Mister Penny

by Marie Hall Ets

秋天到了,彭尼先生一家迎来了一场盛大的活动：参加集市大赛。彭尼先生让老马林皮拉车,把参加大赛的动物、植物、果实们都收拾得干干净净的,浩浩荡荡去集市,准备拿很多奖,让动物们坐一次摩天轮。但惯于自由、无拘无束又热情、好奇的动物们让这次集市之旅一波三折,趣味横生。 一个自由、温暖,充满幽默气息的彭尼先生的家,一匹老了、被人认为"无用"的赛马,一家子调皮、机智的动物,因为"要去坐摩天轮"这个孩子气的愿望,发生了一系列温暖有趣的故事,让每个孩子生活充满信心和期待。

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens

54 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1956

About the author

Marie Hall Ets was an American writer and illustrator who is best known for children's picture books. She attended Lawrence College, and in 1918, Ets journeyed to Chicago where she became a social worker at the Chicago Commons, a settlement house on the northwest side of the city.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is another of those very long stories. Much of it could have been cut out in my opinion. There was too much detail we didn’t really need. I guess that is a modern readers opinion about an older story.

The artwork is lithographs that are quite beautiful. This took more than 20 minutes to read.

This is about Mr Penny - a farmer and his wily group of animals. They go to the fair and they want to win 1st place prizes to get money and take a ride on the Ferris Wheel. The goat breaks out at night and causes much havoc and they are asked to leave the fair grounds But Limpy, the old horse turns the story on its head.

The story is too long and I didn’t really connect with the characters, but it was a cute story still. Neither of the kids liked this story. They were both bored and I don’t think they’ve even been to a fair yet. They both gave this book 1 star. I don’t know that that is a fair assessment, but that is how they felt. It’s not my favorite book either.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book at the Library of Congress and I didn’t have my laptop with me to take notes, so I can’t remember much of what I thought about it at this point. I do remember thinking it reminded me of Charlotte’s Web, and I loved the notion that the animals would be allowed to ride on the ferris wheel. That was definitely my favorite illustration - seeing the animals enjoying themselves on the ride.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mister Penny is heading to the fair to show his prized vegetables, flowers, and animals. His horse Limpy wants to run in a race, but Mister Penny says he's too old. During the first night at the fair, the goat and rooster escape and wander the fairgrounds and make mischief. When fair officials survey the damage the next day they ask Mister Penny to leave. Everyone is sad until Limpy entertains the crowd in the arena and the fair officials ask Mister Penny if Limpy can do some repeat performances. Mister Penny agrees but only if all his animals can ride the ferris wheel because he promised it to them. The director loves that idea and Mister Penny and his animals draw big crowds to the fair which earns Mister Penny $50. Illustrations look like sepia-toned woodcuts.

The story was long though the pictures were interesting. This one feels like Charlotte's web in a picture book, though not nearly as timeless.

[Maria Rowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

• 1957 Caldecott Honor Book •

I really liked this book! I thought the illustrations - which I think are woodcuts - are great. And the story is really silly and fun. The text is longer than most modern childrens books, but typical of an older book. Unfortunately, also typical is that the illustrations are in black and white. (Although I remember having a few black and white books when I was little, and rather enjoyed coloring them in!) Fun to read, and I most enjoyed the illustration of the animals on the ferris wheel!

Materials used: unlisted
Typeface used: unlisted

[HeavyReader · Rating 1 out of 5]

This has to be one of the dumbest books I have ever read.

I can take the anthropomorphic animals that talk when the humans aren't around, but the idea of farm animals (a horse, a cow, a pig, a goat, a sheep, a rooster, a hen) riding a FERRIS WHEEL is more than I can bring myself to accept. Suspending disbelief is one thing, but farm animals riding a FERRIS WHEEL is just too ridiculous.

The illustrations are nice, though.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure whether the illustrations are woodcuts or linocuts, but they are really entertaining and well executed. The book is on the long side, but is very fanciful, and has an entertaining and turn of events and outcome.

[Mckinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, pictures a little scary. Another amusing tale.
Caldecott honor

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Caldecott Honor 1957 - Long for a picture book, but the illustrations are interesting.

[Ama · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story made me smile, as did the fun illustrations.

[Brindi Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

1957 Caldecott honor

3 1/2 stars my favorite illustration is of the animals on the ferris wheel

[Florence Turnour · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed out loud at the antics these animals.

[Seema Rao · Rating 4 out of 5]

An odd story about a man and his really smart horse that doesn't quite hold up all these decades after publication.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-deserved Caldecott Honor. The illustrations are stunning. They are woodcuts, and the expression that is achieved on the faces is priceless. I love the animals on the Ferris wheel at the end.

The story is a really cute story. So much personality comes through in each of the characters, Mister Penny and all of his animals. But it's overlong. It could have been edited down significantly without changing anything but the length.

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

to come

[Nanny B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story! Hard to find book. Found digital copy on internet Archives

[MaryAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever story about a farmer taking his animals, produce and flowers to be judged at the local fair. Illustrations are black and white but effective.

[Laurel Zeisler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Caldecott book had me laughing out loud. The illustrations were good.

[Lorna · Rating 2 out of 5]

1958 Caldecott Honor

Favorite line: "But just then Mister Penny came out to say thank you and good night to the sun-as he did every day-so the animals had to stop talking. For animals never want people to know that they talk to one another when they are alone."

Favorite illustration: Mr. Penny scrubbing the pig in the wash tub.

Thoughts: This title was so densely worded, it left me feeling very restless. I also don't like how the text of one sentence is split between two pages (via a page turn). The story line of a man finding fame and possibly fortune in his animals wasn't enough to keep me interested in what felt like a very long story. Certainly not one to seek out in my opinion. Our very large library system only has one copy and it is kept out of regular circulation in Central Storage.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Penny takes his animals and produce to the fair to show them, and he promises if they win enough prizes, then they can ride in the Ferris Wheel. But Splop the goat gets impatient and takes the rooster with him in the night and they check everything out to see if they'll win or not, and they spoil everything.

I thought this book was okay. The pictures were all right, and the story was interesting.

[Stefanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

The art is frustratingly unrealistic (a horse in a ferris wheel seat, for example) without any charm to make it endearing. I also hate books that reward bad behavior.