Blaze and the Indian Cave

Billy & Blaze #7

by C.W. Anderson

Macmillan 1964, no other dates or printing history. Weekly Reader Book Club Edition. Cover has wear to all edges, light soiling, tiny dings, bumped corners. B&W illustrations by the author, one has "cowboy" stickers. This is a used book.

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

56 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

C.W. Anderson - aka Clarence William Anderson
From Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence...

Clarence William Anderson (1891–1971) was an author and illustrator of children's books. Known professionally as C.W. Anderson, Anderson had an interest in horses and drawing.

Anderson started his career by illustrating for other authors, but eventually began developing texts to accompany his realistic and lively black and white drawings. He is best known for his "Billy and Blaze" book series.

The adventures of Billy and Blaze would revolve around proper care of the horse, while teaching a lesson. Anderson would go to great lengths to give accurate information. He would even go on to write Heads Up, Heels Down as a training tool for young horse lovers. All of the stories Anderson wrote would be based on true stories or people that Anderson knew, only the plots were fiction.

By the end of Anderson's life, he had written and illustrated over thirty-five horse books, and also had created covers for the Saturday Evening Post.

Reviews

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

After exploring an old cave with pictographs on the walls, Billy goes to sleep in the cave while Blaze grazes outside. When he wakes up, Billy discovers that Blaze is missing. With the help of an elderly Native Indian, Billy tracks down Blaze and the person who stole him.
Billy looks a bit older in this book than in some of the other books. The story is enhanced by Anderson's signature black and white drawings.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Billy and Blaze camp out near an old Indian cave. After waking from a deep sleep inside the cave, he discovers Blaze missing. He follows the tracks, and soon meets up with an old Indian who says maybe Joe Rattlesnake stole Blaze. Together Billy and the old Indian spots Joe Rattlesnake riding Blaze. Billy uses his lasso to rope and capture Joe Rattlesnake and get Blaze back, and a red arrowhead from the old Indian for helping him capture Joe Rattlesnake.

[Janet Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a joy to revisit this wonderful story. I have always loved these books, the artwork and stories are just the best! All these years later, I'm 58 and thoroughly enjoyed this adventure! I found the whole series and thought that a relaxing Sunday spent reading the group would be a super way to spend the day. I can't stop smiling. :)

[Paula Greenfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book series.

[Glasdow Teacosy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a child, I loved the illustrations in this book, as well as the adventure of a young boy (Billy) camping on his own in a cave filled with petroglyphs. The story is very dated and harkens back to the time where cowboy stories were still popular, and none of the Native Americans could speak English very well. The boy goes exploring, has his horse (Blaze) stolen, then gets it back with his trusty lasso and the help of a passing Indian guide. They even catch the "no-good Indian" horse thief, Joe Rattlesnake, which sounded like a great name for a villain to my four/five year old self. What's notable about this book, however, are C. W. Anderson's excellent pencil drawings. Likely drawn from photographs, they capture the West of the early 50s. The clothes, especially, are rendered well from the detailed plaid shirt to the rumpled jeans.

I read this book when I was in preschool in the late 60s. What did I know about Native American stereotypes, and political correctness? All I knew was that I wanted to lasso horse thieves just like Billy.

[Thom (T.E.) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone just mentioned this series of books. I had maybe three of them. As soon I saw the cover of this one, I remember it clearly. I like when books from long ago, in the fringes of memory pop up in the mind, so that I can say Thank You to the people who generously gifted me with something so special and appropriate.

[Jason Stadtlander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another from our old book collection that grandpa gave us. A heartwarming story of a boy and his horse and days gone by. Tells the story of a boy who loses his horse to a horse thief but gets it back with the help of an old Indian.

[Elana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Billy and the Indian Cave

I can understand why this is no longer published, it’s definitely not politically correct, but still a great book from the age when children played cowboys and Indians. C. W. Anderson’s artwork was, as always, thoroughly enjoyable.

[Don Gubler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story.

[Anna]

Book 7 in the series