Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Another Katrina story: Molly the Pony

What happened to the people of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina? Many stayed. Many relocated elsewhere. Some returned. And the animals? "Molly the Pony: A True Story" is just one story of many. In this case Molly was left with the intention of the return of her owners.

Molly was a "lucky" pony. Her owners left her enough hay to last the two weeks she spent in a barn in isolation and lock-down after the hurricane was over. During the storm the wind blew off the roof, allowing rain to fall inside and provide enough water to last those two weeks. Her owners had locked the doors to keep Molly safe; the abundant hay was surely an unknowing miraculous act for Molly. If you will remember, various people from the New Orleans area immediately started search and rescue efforts for people and animals alike after the storm. Molly is just one story.

A nearby neighbor took in Molly until her owners could return. As with many, they chose to relocate. Molly became Ms Kay's new addition. The story could have ended here but would not be as interesting as what happened. A huge dog wandered into the pasture and attacked Molly, biting her severely on one front leg. The wound would not heal and Molly lost her leg. The cover picture reveals that Molly was fitted with a prosthesis and learned to live with it (many horses could not). This still is not the end of a wonderful story.

The third phase of Molly's journey is her becoming a therapy horse--you know, like dogs and cats are. With the story of her own prosthesis, Molly is taken to various homes and institutions where she touches lives of children and senior adults with their own disabilities.

I summarized this wonderful story so that readers will know what "Molly the Pony" is about and why this true story is so worthy of being part of everyone's library. Although it was written for children--my library students, 4- and 5-year-olds were so intrigued!, adults will also love this lesson in persistence, determination, and a dogged/horsed will to live. Highly recommended! Comment

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A favorite souvenir

A favorite souvenir
These are my two girls from Ireland!

Judy's shared items

Books on my very ambitious TBR list (*denotes read)

  • *Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever by Mem Fox
  • The Odd Women by George Gissing
  • The Zen of Fish by Trevor Corson
  • How to Get Your Child to Love Reading by Esme Raji Codell
  • The Cod Tale by Mark Kurlansky
  • In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden
  • *Joan of Arc by Mark Twain
  • Dag Hammarskjold by Elizabeth Rider Montgomery
  • The Wisdom in the Hebrew Alphabet by Rabbi Michael L. Munk
  • Children of Strangers by Lyle Saxon
  • Spiritual Writings by Flannery O'Connor
  • Nightmares and Visions: Flannery O'Connor and the Catholic Grotesque by Gilbert H. Muller
  • The Violent Bear It Away by Flannery O'Connor
  • Flannery O'Connor's South by Robert Coles
  • Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor
  • Sylvanus Now by Donna Morrissey
  • *Vincent de Paul by Margaret Ann Hubbard
  • Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
  • A Briefer History of Time by Stephen Hawking
  • The Library at Night by Alberto Manguel
  • Readicide by Kelly Gallagher
  • *Ruined by Paula Morris
  • Say You're Not One of Them by Uwem Akpan
  • Wandering Star by J.M.G. Le Clezio
  • Silence by Shusaku Endo
  • *The Assault by Harry Mulisch
  • Kari's Saga by Robert Jansson
  • *The German Mujahid by Boualem Sansal
  • Western Skies by Joseph Conrad
  • *The Giver by Lois Lowery
  • *Imperium by Ryszard Kapuscinski

School Library Journal - NeverEndingSearch

Imperium

Imperium
A semester course in one book about the Soviet Union. Click on image for my review.