Three-Dollar Mule

This is a sweet tale about pets, cruelty to animals and how they can be loyal to humans in critical situations. Don is a boy who lives on a ranch and wants to get a horse. He has his eye on Ben Gold, a beautiful horse owned by a neighbor. The story opens with Don raking leaves and earning three dollars. Later, as he is going down the road, he sees a man beating a mule with a stick. He yells at him to stop it and the frustrated man offers Don the mule for his three dollars. A sudden handshake and Don owns a mule that he names Sinbad. Sinbad is ornery, braying in the morning, kicking down things and pushing adults around. However, he is gentle to children and Don and his sister Jenny grow fond of him. Sinbad is put out into the distant wooded pasture and Don goes to visit him. On one visit, Don injures his leg and cannot walk. Sinbad comes to him and lies down beside him, keeping him warm and company throughout the night. In the morning, Don's father is led to him by Sinbad's braying. At the end, Don has both Ben Gold and Sinbad and they become pasture buddies. Sometimes, the pets we are most attached to are those with flaws. This is the case here, Don rescues Sinbad and even though Sinbad is not what he wants, he learns to love him for what he is. That is a good lesson for children.

My 20 yr old read this book years ago and loved it as much asmy 7 yr old liked it today! This is exciting enough to keep a newreader interested with funny incidents and some exciting happenings. It is very difficult to find something for this stage of reader who is ready for something a lot more stimulating than rhyming picture books. This is particularly true for young boys who would rather be outside playing than reading. Bulla's story has a difficult mule named Sinbad, a 12-yr old boy with a broken leg, a thoroughbred horse,and some cows and chickens thrown in for lots of interest!... The book could be read to a pre-reader, it could be read together (by switching off) with an early reader, or enjoyed by anyone up to the age of 12 when they can read alone. Approved by a homeschooling mom!

My mom and I have been looking for good books to read. I had been reading the Polk Street School books by Patricia Reilly Giff and have finished them. Mom remembered Clyde Robert Bulla books and how much my older sisters enjoyed them when they were my age. I read THIS great book in one morning. It's about a boy who reluctantly buys an ornery mule for $3 after he sees a man beating him. Don, the 12 yr old boy, really wants a thoroughbred horse but his dad tells him he can't get the horse until he gets rid of Sinbad the mule. Don and his sister Jenny try to give the mule away he's so much trouble for the family, but no one in town wants the mule when they hear how much trouble Sinbad is. In the end Sinbad can stay. Read this exciting story to find out what happened to make Don's dad change his mind!

My 20 yr old read this book years ago and loved it as much as my 7 yr old liked it today! This is exciting enough to keep a new reader interested with funny incidents and some exciting happenings. It is very difficult to find something for this stage of reader who is ready for something a lot more stimulating than rhyming picture books. This is particularly true for young boys who would rather be outside playing than reading. Bulla's story has a difficult mule named Sinbad, a 12-yr old boy with a broken leg, a thoroughbred horse,and some cows and chickens thrown in for lots of interest! In the end the Three Dollar Mule saves the day! The book could be read to a pre-reader, it could be read together (by switching off) with an early reader, or enjoyed by anyone up to the age of 12 when they can read alone. Approved by a homeschooling mom!