Wild Horse Annie: Friend of the Mustangs
Written and by Tracey Fern and Illustrated by Steven Salerno
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Summary:
Wild Horse Annie was the nickname of Velma Bronn Johnston (1912–77), loved mustangs all her life. When she saw mustangs being rounded up and killed to make room for ranchers’ livestock, she knew she had to speak up. In 1950, she began writing letters to local newspapers and politicians, defending the horses' right to roam free.
Many people told Annie to hush up, but they couldn’t stop her. She soon became a voice for mustangs throughout the state of Nevada, speaking on their behalf at town halls and meetings.
But Annie was only one person, and she wanted to do more. So she got children to speak up, too, by having them write letters to Washington, D.C., officials to ask them to save the mustangs. Finally, with the help of her young “pencil brigade,” Annie persuaded Congress to pass nationwide laws protecting wild horses and burros on public land nationwide.
Patron Reviews:
Amy, fifth grade: I like it because it is about horses.
Keri, fourth grade: I liked how she rescued the horses in the corral.
Susan, third grade: I liked to see Annie riding the mustang.
Mervin, fourth grade: I thought it was neat how she stood in the front of all the people and spoke to them about not shooting wild horses.
Rhoda, adult: What would have happened to the wild horses if Annie wouldn't have lobbied for them? Annie was their voice. It's inspiring how she got polio and afterwards, in spite of pain, she put her all in to helping the horses. Small things can make a big difference.
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