Off Like the Wind!: The First Ride of the Pony Express

by Michael P. Spradlin, Layne Johnson (Illustrator)

In 1860, the first Pony Express rider set out on a trail from Missouri to California. With him, he carried a special delivery?the first mail ever carried by hand to the West. Over the next eleven days, he and many other riders would endure harsh weather, dangerous animals, and more, but nothing would diminish their unflagging determination and courage.
Meticulously researched and gorgeously illustrated, Michael P. Spradlin and Layne Johnson's Off Like the Wind! brings to life an adventurous journey, full of suspense and excitement, that celebrates America's can-do attitude and pioneering spirit.

Genres: Picture Books, History, Childrens, Nonfiction, Westerns, American History, Social Science

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Michael P. Spradlin is the author of more than a dozen books for children.

Reviews

[Leigha Nunnally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book to use while teaching my students about the Pony Express.

[Gail Cooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

While most young readers will respond to stories of the early American West, there is little more exciting or educational than a factual account of those days. OFF LIKE THE WIND, The First Ride of the Pony Express is a prime example of a true account that holds more thrills than any fictional cowboy tale could possibly offer.

Illustrated by Layne Johnson's oil paintings this is a book that young ones will want in their libraries and perhaps some day pass on to children of their own. The account of the first Pony Express ride is a story filled with courage, endurance, excitement, and perseverance.

Three businessmen who made their lives carrying wagon loads of goods across the West came up with the idea of building a series of stations across our country from the east to California and the western territories so that a rider might carry mail along this route. With stations every 15 miles or so the rider would be able to change horses at every station.

Obviously, it would take plucky young men to be riders and one was certainly found in Johnny Fry, the first man to take this history making ride. Some 100 stations were placed along the nearly 2,000 mile trail. He carried mail "in small locked pouches called micelles."

Spradlin chronicles the 11 day journey from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California. Each day is accompanied by a description of the land being crossed and the hazards faced plus a stunning full page painting. A map of the Pony Express route, which actually covered a total of 1,840 miles is found on the endpapers.

Highly recommended.

- Gail Cooke

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of the first ride of the Pony Express. The Pony Express only ran for a little over a year but was a remarkably fast way to get mail from the midwest to California. It cost $5 per 1/2 ounce. The trail was 1840 miles and went through enemy (Native American) territory and the wild west.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely illustrated book about the first ride of the Pony Express. Of course, it's not until the author's note that you realize that the "first ride" is an amalgamation of stories told throughout the entire Pony Express's history, so it gets knocked off a bit on accuracy.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

My girls really enjoyed this book! Perfect for history and geography and money and the transcontinental railroad. Definitely will be checking out more by this author!

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for 5420 class

[Camille · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a John Ford western kind of girl. I love stories about the history of the American West!