Summary
Billy is given a pony, which he names Blaze. Billy and Blaze go on many adventures together including finding a quarry, exploring forgotten roads, reducing a calf from a mountain lion, befriending a wild stallion, and more!
While these are intended as Early Readers, they are structured more like long picture books.
Mom Thoughts
These modern classic stories about a boy and his pony are sure to delight the adventure-seeking or horse-loving child. These remind me a bit of Lassie, with Billy and Blaze always coming to the rescue and everything turning out perfectly. If there is a contest, Billy and Blaze will win. Overall, these are remarkably sweet and fun adventure stories that always turn out right.
“They came to a place where a dead tree was leaning across the road. There was barely room for Blaze to go under it. Billy had to lie flat on Blaze’s back, and they just squeezed through.”
There are a few things generational differences of which you might want to be aware:
Billy is allowed an incredible amount of freedom- being able to venture very far from home, alone on horseback. In one book he even sleeps overnight in a cave, alone.
The original form of the terms gay and gaily are used.
The term Indian is used to refer to Native Americans.
One book centers around Gypsies stealing Blaze.
Billy and Blaze Series