Blaze and the Lost Quarry

Billy & Blaze #8

by C.W. Anderson

Billy and Blaze are looking for adventure as they set out to explore the countryside. But when they find an abandoned quarry, they're in for more than they could have imagined. Not only does Billy perform a brave deed, but he and Blaze make a new friend, too! This could be the greatest adventure ever!
Blaze and the Lost Quarry is part of the classic Billy and Blaze series. Thoughtful drawings and easy-to-read text capture the warmth and understanding shared by a boy and his horse.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Horses, Animals, Adventure, Fiction, Classics

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1966

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

[Luisa Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve heard of these books but I couldn’t honestly say that they were high on my priority list. I guess it’s a good thing I stumbled upon them at a thrift store recently!

Wow! These are great books for beginning readers - such a notable difference from the vast majority of slop you see published these days. The stories are simple, but not dumb. And oh my dear, the illustrations are some of the best I’ve ever seen! Both horse lovers and horse non-enthusiasts (ha, ha) will thoroughly adore this series!

Add these to your purchase list!

Ages: 4 - 9

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great illustrations accompany a simple but engaging story. Good for beginning readers.

[Saleh MoonWalker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Onvan : Blaze and the Lost Quarry - Nevisande : C.W. Anderson - ISBN : 068971775X - ISBN13 : 9780689717758 - Dar 48 Safhe - Saal e Chap : 1966

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had almost the entire Billy and Blaze series when I was in my 20s. After the worst mental breakdown of my life in 1999, I sold or gave away my book collection. I have bought replacement copies of some of the series, including this book. It wasn't as good as I remembered it, which is rare for a C. W. Anderson book.

I get the feeling that the entire story wasn't told. This is because of a stray dog, possibly a beagle, that appears in the story. In the first three books in this series, Billy had a German shepherd/Alsatian dog named Rex. Rex vanished by book 4. He was sick in book 3, but Anderson never explicitly states what happened to Rex.

This beagle also vanishes from the series. Considering that Anderson drew the dog with a docked tail, I wonder if the dog's owner showed up.

These are the things I obsess over now that I'm an adult. Growing up has made some of my favorite children's books quite disturbing.

Anderson never ever states what color Blaze is. The edition I currently have, the paperback 2000 Aladdin, shows Blaze to be a chestnut. However, this is a colorized pencil drawing of Anderson's. This was done about 30 years after Anderson's death, so I'm not taking this as gospel.

Billy is drawn with the hairstyle of the first three books. However, this time he is wearing breeches instead of shorts, which much be so much more comfortable. Blaze seems to be more handsome than usual.

[Stephanie Sheaffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent "longer-than-a-reader, but shorter-than-a-chapter-book" title for young readers. Perfect story for grades K-4! Even older kids will enjoy this simple tale of a boy and his horse, looking for a lost quarry and finding a lost dog while there. Lovely black-and-white vintage illustrations on every page.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Billy and Blaze set out for adventure, when they meet an old timer who tells them how to look for the lost quarry. Billy rides Blaze deep into the forest along a dense trail, until they locate the lost quarry. Billy does a heroic selfless act, and makes a new friend in the process.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

James: I liked how Blaze was riding his pony and found an old man sitting on his porch. The man told him that if he followed a path, he would find an old quarry. I liked how he saved a dog that was getting chased by a fox and I liked what the quarry looked like.

[Nicole Fanning · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Billy and Blaze series is great for little kids who love adventure and nature. When we finished the series, my seven year old said “We are DEFINITELY reading those again.” They are treasures that you won’t find on any of the modern children’s book lists.

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

9/17/19 Read with Julia

[Kim Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this series as a kid, but I don't remember reading this one. I really love it and I'm glad I discovered it as an adult!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the whole “Billy and Blaze” series!

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

My littlest gents favorite books right now.

[Natalie Neiffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book and a kid and have always loved it. I love the illustrations and the cute ending.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay story in the Billy and Blaze series of picture books about a boy, his horse, a lost quarry, and a clumsy dog. My rating - 3/5

[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. :)

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this book to my brother because he likes Billy and Blaze, too.

Blaze finds a quarry. An old man told him how to get there. He told him to look for a rock that said "Wolf Rock." He said that he should look for a path that has wagon ruts.

When Billy and Blaze found the quarry, they saw a fox chasing a dog. The dog was a stray dog. He fell off a cliff into a river, and Billy and Blaze try to help him. This is how Billy and Blaze made a new friend.

I like that there was a quarry and there was a dog in this book. The quarry is interesting because it's just a big cliff now, and it used to be lots of rocks and workers.

[Whitney Strickland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blaze and the Lost Quarry is not a colorful book but it is definitely a nice one to add to your collection. It's a story about adventure and with the absence of guided illustrations it really gets you imagination going. This is a great book to read aloud at the end of the day when your students are waiting for the bell to ring.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I remember for its illustrations more than its story. When I was 6 my dream was to be an artist and the horses Anderson drew were what I attempted to create for my portfolio. Looking back at my work now it was a far cry from what I hoped it to be, but I thank Anderson for the inspiration nonetheless.

[Luis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Billy enjoys going on adventures with his horse, Blaze. His horse gets its name from its four white feet and a wide white stripe on its face. The book is about their journey to the lost quarry and their findings along the way. In the end, they end up finding the quarry and saving a dog that fell into the water. Luckily, Billy was there to help it come out of the water.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Blaze series is incredibly well illustrated. They are plain in the fact that they are pencil drawings but they are amazing in detail! They always draw us in with the details. My 7 year old (girl) LOVES this series mostly because she loves horses. She loves the adventure and this is a pretty easy reader for her. I just wish that we had found out the name of the dog. :)

[Kaethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty pencil drawings of a horse and his boy in the woods and at the quarry.

I don't normally think this, but I wouldn't feel bad about tearing a copy of one of these apart to mount the sketches.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

How funny that a boy names Billy is able to go explore the countryside and go to see an abandoned quarry. Never would this happen here today but it is a great conversation peace for kids. He also has a pocket knife and cuts his way through.

[Ice 9 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about a boy and his horse. If you love animals then you'll love this. Read my full review at:
http://letterstocassiandotherfolks.bl...

[Dimps · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first series I ever read! I love these books most of all!

[Don Gubler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great boy and his horse stories.

[Andre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is perfect. Boy rides pony to mysterious place. Finds broken house. Rescues puppy from gravel pit. This is the kind of thing I love to read to my five year old.

[Jossalyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

read with my kids when small for bedtime story

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Billy & Blaze books! I had forgotten about them until my daughter brought home an entire stack from the library. Happily reading them together and rediscovering my childhood.

[WSL Library]

x2

[Jessica Bukowinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good length for a read together bedtime story. Unrealistic today, but good for the imagination.