They're Off!: The Story of the Pony Express

by Cheryl Harness

Book Overview

In 1860, with North and South about to be divided by war, East and West were united through an extraordinary venture -- the Pony Express. Over the course of ten days in April, eighty riders and five... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0689805233
• ISBN13: 9780689805233
• Release Date: November 1996
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.9" x 11.4"
• Age Range: 7 to 10 years
• Grade Range: Grades 2 to 5

Customer Reviews

the illustrations reach out and grab you

We have been reading and studying about westward expansion and frontier living all summer; this book is valuable in the context of connecting the continent. The book captures the history of the overland mail, as well as many of the legends and lore surrounding the Pony Express, too. My second grader is ga-ga over this book; the illustrations are terrific. If you enjoyed the early reader "Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express," then this is a natural follow-on for more advanced readers. Great for historical context and in-depth maps, diagrams, and drawings. This is a wonderful learning tool. Having read "Orphans Preferred" I can happily say that this is a much better book on the topic, even though it is geared toward a young readership.

Great Illustrations

Our 8-year-old son loved this book. It was purchased for a homeschool social studies curriculum regarding westward expansion and it caught his interest right away. He even wants to keep the book after "school" is over. Short, quick read with great illustrations. Good snapshot of the Pony Express and the mail system in the U.S.

We Love this Book in Missouri

This story is about the first Pony Express ride in 1860. There is pre and post historical information and discussion about the influence of the telegraph. The illustrations accompanying the middle-later elementary text are beautiful.