Step Right Up : How Doc and Jim Key Taught the World About Kindness / Donna Janell Bowman ~ 4 Stars

[Joni]

We could all use a little bit of kindness.

Step Right Up is about a young slave boy, named William Key born in 1833. He was first taught kindness when his master allowed him to sit in on daily lessons that were being taught to the master's sons. By the time that William was 6 years old, he had a way with animals. He was kind to the wildest of animals that he was able to tame them. He took a special liking to horses. As he grew older, he would often be sent to neighboring farms to help tame animals. After the civil war, when William gained his freedom, he made a life for himself and his wife. He purchased a piece of land that was perfect for a horse hospital. During that time, William became known for his own line of medicines, including Keystone Liniment, which could be used to treat horses and humans.

William really became known for his famous horse, Jim Key. Jim Key was born to an Arabian horse that William rescued from a circus. Jim was not born strong enough to be a race horse but he was very intelligent. William taught Jim how to spell, read, count, file letters....among other things. Some people questioned William and believed that William abused Jim and forced him to do these things. No, William was kind and patience with Jim and taught him these things. William proved to millions of people what he had always believed; with kindness, anything is possible.

***Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee 2018-2019