THINKING AHEAD TO 2011: We're already looking for an idea for a serialized story to launch on International Literacy Day 2011. If you have an idea or know an author who might like to donate a story, do write us.
The Legend of the Pony's Tears - An Overview >> NOTE: Materials will be online by the end of July. If you need them before then, please contact Aralynn McMane, WAN-IFRA Executive Director of Young Readership Development at aralynn.mcmane@wan-ifra.org.
This story will take your readers on a journey to discover creatures of the mountain forests. Legend of the Pony's Tears is an exciting multi-cultural mix of legend, mythology, social studies and language arts. This unforgettable story has it all...drama, suspense,
warmth, and great characters. This serial story is perfect for introducing your readers to the diverse Native American culture and a story that will also resonate in any country where one population has been displaced or oppressed by another. It can also be used for teaching character education.
Written by award-winning author, Mary Maden, and illustrated by Vicki Wallace, the serial story has 12 chapters.
The Legend of the Pony's Tears is the story of a Native American boy named Little Wolf and his friendship with an Indian pony that cannot be tamed. With the help of a grizzled old packhorse, the rogue pony jumps the fence in the horse corral and escapes into the Great Mountains to hide.From then on, the drama increases as the pony narrowly escapes drowning in a swift stream.
The little pony is freed from the river's grasp and manages to drag himself ashore. Little Wolf discovers the injured, frightened pony and helps him. The pony returns the favor by saving Little Wolf from a cougar. From that day on, the pony and the boy are brothers.To show his trust in Little Wolf, the pony lets the boy ride him. The boy and the pony spend their days riding far up into the beautiful mountains Then one day, tragedy strikes. Little Wolf does not come to see his friend.
The pony searches for the boy only to find out that soldiers have taken Little Wolf away. The soldiers moved Little Wolf and his people west, far from their mountain home. The trail to the west is hard and many of Little Wolf's people die--including Little Wolf's mother. After his mother's death, Little Wolf decides to go back to his beloved mountains and his brother, the pony. Little Wolf is injured when he runs away. Despite his injury, the boy keeps running toward his home. With his last ounce of strength, the boy is finally in sight of his home. Too weak to go on, Little Wolf manages to whistle for the pony--then collapses.
The pony hears Little Wolf's weak whistle and realizes that his friend is dying. Then the pony does something no pony has even done before or since--the pony cries! With the help of the forces of nature, the pony's tears are made into rain. The rain reaches Little Wolf, reviving him. The boy then follows a magical rainbow where the pony awaits. Little Wolf jumps on the pony's back and they ride away. It is said, that even today, far up in the Great Mountains, you can still hear the hoof beats of a little pony and the laughter of an Indian boy.
STORY SPECIFICS
- Suggested reading level: ages 7 to 12 years. Read aloud for all ages.
- Twelve Chapters.Length of chapters: 850 to 950 words.
- Activities to encourage readers to "Ponder What You Have Read" and "Explore the Newspaper"
- One drawing per chapter, both black and white and in color.
- Background about the Cherokee.
Of creatures and biodiversity - from Sardine Features
We take your readers on a journey to discover creatures of the mountain forests. Like Little Wolf, they will meet up with a cougar, a wolf and an eagle, each essential in sustaining the life and diversity in the eco-system in which it dwells.
The United Nations has declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity to celebrate the variety of life on earth while underscoring the important role that biodiversity plays in all of our lives. A story about each with one photograph for each segment will be available free for publication.
- Articles copyright credit: Patricia Valicenti
- Photographs copyright credit: Francis Apesteguy
To obtain story and for further information please contact: sardinefeatures@wanadoo.fr/ +33 1 43 36 52 64.