Cheyenne Medicine Hat

My 8 year old loved this book -- the story of a special group of horses --told in lyrical prose that stretched his imagination -- with gorgeous pictures -- Buy this book as a gift and it will be treasured for years!!

This book is dedicated to the spirit of the American mustang, inspired by the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary in Hot Springs, South Dakota. Every page of this large picture book is filled with breathtaking paintings of the scenery and horses of the west. The main character is a mare, a Medicine Hat mustang (named for their markings), and this book tells of her life in the wild with her herd. They undergo many trials--including an attack by cougars, and attempts by men to round them up. Gregory Manchess is an award-winning painter who has worked on projects for Time and the National Geographic Society. This is his fifth children's book. If you love horses even a tiny bit, the stunning paintings of the horses running wild and free in their hills will stir and inspire you. The artist is especially good at depicting movement and speed. This book will make a perfect gift for readers who love wild life, history, the west, and of course, horses. Armchair Interviews says: The story will appeal to all ages and the illustrations of running horses are incredible.

Greg Manchess' oil paintings for this book are simply jaw-dropping. He captures in a wonderful painterly fashion, the movement and pure energy of these horses, something which a very hard thing to do, the animals appear to be in motion, simply in paint. For the art alone is it well worth buying and I give it my highest recommendation.

Written by Brian Heinz and illustrated by Gregory Manchess, Cheyenne Medicine Hat is the story of a mare leading a herd of wild horses amid the rocky lands and the prairie of the American West. Named Medicine Hat for her markings that Sioux warriors believed were sacred protective shields in battle, she must help her fellow mustangs survive the search for food and water, attacks from predators such as cougars, and perhaps most threatening of all, the advance of horse wranglers. The utterly stunning, full-color illustrations distinguish this powerful and emotional picturebook story, featuring text involved enough to be ideal for young readers who are almost ready to move on to chapter books.