Zildjian The History of the Legendary Cymbal Markers Book

I was looking for a good wholesome family movie for movie night, someone had recommended 'Secretariat' to my husband, so I was looking at reviews for it on-line when I came across a picture book called 'Wonder Horse: The True Story of the World's Smarted Horse' by Emily Arnold McCully. It looked interesting. I borrowed it from my local library and read it to my children who are six and nine years old. We all loved it; I was fascinated and wanted to learn more about the man who trained the smartest horse in the world.

McCully's author note from 'Wonder Horse' said that the horse's trainer and owner, Doc Key, was a former slave who followed his master's two sons into the Civil War where he saved their lives, after he was a free man he went on to pay off the mortgage on his master's house. Those two facts alone amazed me and I wanted to learn more about Doc Key.

I was thrilled to find Mim Rivas's biography on both horse and man. The horse was "Beautiful, Jim Key", his owner and trainer, William "Doc" Key. They are two of the most endearing creatures I've ever read about.

I loved learning all the things Jim could do and his attitude while doing them, I would recount his accomplishments and antics at dinner each night to the amusement of my family.

I love the story about Jim sneaking in and stealing all the apples Doc stored in his desk drawer in the stables, how he ended up sleeping in the house every night with Doc and what happened when Jim got too big to sleep in the house.

I was reminded of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan while I read how Doc taught Jim the alphabet and how to spell. Doc worked with Jim for years teaching Jim the alphabet and numbers, then how to spell, add, subtract, multiply, make change, use a cash register, tell time, sort mail and cite biblical passages.

Jim and Doc eventually partnered with Albert Rogers and went on tour traveling the country spreading their message that 'anything is possible with kindness and patience.' They eventually joined forces with George Angell from the Massachusetts SPCA and the American Humane Education Society and took their message to millions of people especially encouraging school children to sign a pledge of kindness to all creatures.

If you are an animal lover I strongly encourage you to read this book. I just loved it. It is one of the sweetest stories I have ever read.