Idaho Librarian

Reviews

It is obvious why Smoky won the Newberry award in 1927.  This book is a classic and is an excellent children’s book, enjoyed by people of all ages for over 70 years. 

That Will James was an actual working cowboy can be seen in his description of the countryside, the roundups, the rodeos and in the reflection of his knowledge of cattle and horses.  This book, like Cow Country, is written in the vernacular.  The style contributes to the feeling of authenticity.  James’ illustrations, each worthy of framing in its own right, contribute mightily to the work as accurate illustrations of the story.  Who could fail to understand the situation after a glance at the illustration (page 10) of Smokey’s mother protecting him from the coyote?

The story gains the reader’s interest from page one when Smoky is born, and the reader sees life through the little colt’s eyes.  This interest is maintained throughout the book as one follows Smoky’s life from the days when he is protected by his mother, to his time running free as a wild horse, until he is captured in a roundup and broken to the saddle through the patience of Clint.  Smoky and Clint become the best Cowhorse/cowboy team on the Rocking R ranch.  When he is turned out to pasture for the winter, Smoky is stolen and taken to the southwest.  The reader then follows Smoky’s life as a rodeo horse, feeling his trials and tribulations.

This book, as with all of James’ books, still makes for interesting reading.

Mountain Press should be commended for reissuing Smoky and other Will James books and making them available for a new generation of readers.  Who should read these?  Anyone interested in the west as it really was, anyone who enjoys horses, and anyone who enjoys reading westerns or reading for pure pleasure.

Other books by Will James which Mountain Press has republished include Cowcountry (1995) and Sand (1996).  Anyone who would like to know more about Will James should read Will James:  The Gilt Edged Cowboy by Anthony Amaral (1967).