Newbery Medal Winner

Smoky the Cowhorse

by Will James

Summary

Told largely from the horse's point of view, this novel follows Smoky from his birth on the open range through his bond with a cowboy, his theft, and his hard fall before a final reunion. James writes in a rough, vernacular cowboy voice and fills the pages with his own vivid drawings of horses and ranch life. The book endures as a landmark of Western fiction for young readers.

Historical Context & Significance

Will James was a working cowboy and self taught artist who illustrated the book with his own drawings of horses and range life.