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Summary: A Northern Arizona Historian just South of The Canyon
Review: I too read this book when I was about 9 and really enjoyed it. Then I discovered, by reading an article in Arizona Highways magazine, that a movie had been made of "Brighty". I saw the movie, and read the book to my daughter when she was 9.(First, let's remember Brighty was a burro, not a donkey or a mule.There is a difference--) And yes, the burros were hard on the environment, but thanks to Cleveland Amory, a lot of them were airlifted out of the GC to be adopted--not shot on sight as the National Park Service was doing to remove them. Teddy Roosevelt was a great president and instrumental in protecting our wild spaces, but he and Uncle Jimmy Owens had a skewed view of mountain lions. Because of the "sportkilling" of these animals--dozens of them, by Jim and Teddy, along with others-- the mule deer population of the North Rim of the Canyon exploded, and many deer starved to death lacking sufficient forage to go around. I know, I know, it was a different time. However, if you are going to address the environmental impact of burros, you better mention the environmental impact of the killing of masses of mountain lions for trophy and sport, Teddy Roosevelt included. It does disturb me that the book portrayed the lion as a horrible, scary and aggressive animal, when in reality (like most predators) they are shy and retiring, unless you corner them or threaten their young. If teachers continue to read this book to their classes (and they should) I hope they allow for student discussion about how ideas on the environment and wild animals have changed since the book was written, as well as the historical time it was placed in. Reality checks are incredibly important for true understanding.
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Summary: What a Wonderful Story!
Review: I'm an early childhood educator and have a particular interest in children's literature. While wandering through an abandoned parochial school library, Brighty of the Grand Canyon caught my eye. I brought it home and read it cover to cover. Brighty is a sweet, loving, and endearing character. Kids as well as adults will get caught up in Brighty's world. I'm sad to find out that burros were such a destructive force in the Grand Canyon. But after reading the book, I am hoping to take a vacation out to the Grand Canyon to see Brighty's statue. Check out the Grand Canyon's website for more information on Brighty.
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Summary: The real Brighty and Bobby McKee
Review: My father and grand parents started the Wylie Way camp at the North Rim in 1916. The Summer of 1918 was when Brighty became their water carrier and my father and Brighty made several trips a day to a water source 200ft. below the rim. The camp was about 100yds North West from the current Grand Canyon Lodge and held up to 100 people per night at it's capacity. My Grandmother did all of the accounting and was basically in charge of the people and the kitchen, including the ordering of food, cooking and purchases from Z.C.M.I. It was a pioneering effort, to say the least. Dad's encounters with Brighty have become synonymous with early life at the North Rim. Grandfather wrote an article on Brighty for Sunset Magazine and Marguerite Henry based her book on this article. The book is fiction but has some true things such as Brighty crossing the Bridge first and being independant. I'm not sure if Brighty actually was used by Roosevelt but another Burro was used and his name was Ted. Dad used Ted his first summer at the camp. Ted was stubborn so the following summer Brighty was given them by Uncle Jim Owen who had used Brighty off and on in his cougar hunting adventures. Owen was a resident expert who worked for the government culling the cougar population and raising cattle and buffalo. Thanks. M. Krueger
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Summary: Excellent Book
Review: This great book I read when I was 6,7,8,& 9, but I still remember how great it was. This book was written by a great author, Marguerite Henry. She always wrote Realistic Fiction about horses. Even if you're not a horse lover, you would love these. In Brighty of the Grand Canyon, a donkey named Brighty lives with an old man that lives in the Grand Canyon. One night a "bad guy" comes and meets the two friends. The old man thinks he is really friendly, so he lets him stay the night. Before they went to bed, the old man tells the other too much information and that night, the other man kills him. Brighty knew when he first laid eyes on him, he could tell he was up to no good. As the story goes on, the man runs away and Brighty tries to get him in jail. Brighty goes through many tough challenges and exciting times. Brighty fights with other animals, plays with children, gets sick, and gets trapped with the man and a young boy. I'm not going to give away the end, but not very many people have even heard of Marguerite Henry, so if you think you will enjoy this book from my review, please do so. I admired Marguerite Henry for how well she wrote her stories and how her imagination worked. Sadly, she died in 1998. Once again, I hope you will enjoy the book if you decide to read it.
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Summary: Endearing Donkey! Great Adventure!
Review: This is based on a true story about the adventures of a special donkey who lives in the Grand Canyon during the time of the building of the first bridge. The story has very real-life qualites. The geographical description of Grand Canyon and involvement with President Theodore Roosevelt are a pleasant addition! This book makes a good read aloud for intermediates and leaves you with an endearing feeling for the characters. I recommend this for intermediate ages. It may be too graphic for young children. Happy reading!
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