Seabiscuit: The Wonder Horse

It's Seabiscuit vs. War Admiral in the race of the century!

Seabiscuit was the grandson of one of the greatest racehorses of all time, but he'd lost practically every race he'd ever run. Who would want a funny-looking racehorse on a losing streak? Enter Charles Howard — automobile tycoon, risk taker, and racing aficionado — who scooped up Seabiscuit for a bargain price.

With the support and care of a clever new trainer and a loving jockey, 'Biscuit began winning bigger and bigger races. Then came the biggest race of all. As Seabiscuit prepared to face War Admiral, the top racehorse in the country, the entire nation was on the edge of its seat: Could Seabiscuit really beat the Triple Crown champion?

This true story of hope and determination will inspire readers of all ages!

It's Seabiscuit vs. War Admiral in the race of the century!

Seabiscuit was the grandson of one of the greatest racehorses of all time, but he'd lost practically every race he'd ever run. Who would want a funny-looking racehorse on a losing streak? Enter Charles Howard — automobile tycoon, risk taker, and racing aficionado — who scooped up Seabiscuit for a bargain price.

With the support and care of a clever new trainer and a loving jockey, 'Biscuit began winning bigger and bigger races. Then came the biggest race of all. As Seabiscuit prepared to face War Admiral, the top racehorse in the country, the entire nation was on the edge of its seat: Could Seabiscuit really beat the Triple Crown champion?

This true story of hope and determination will inspire readers of all ages!

Children's Literature

McCarthy takes us back to the Depression days of the 1930s when people went to the racetrack to take their minds off the hard times. "The horses were sleek and fast. REAL FAST." Except for one named Seabiscuit, who hated to run. In her simple, straightforward text, McCarthy traces Seabiscuit's racing career from the time Charles Howard buys him. John "Red" Pollard, his jockey, and "Silent Tom" Smith, his trainer, gradually bring the horse to the point where he becomes a surprise winner. There is also another horse who is "REAL FAST" and even more famous, named War Admiral. Howard challenges his owner, Samuel Riddle, to a race. At that time the race drew thousands of spectators and forty million radio listeners. Sea Biscuit finally forges ahead to win by four lengths. McCarthy has chosen a cartoonlike style for her acrylic illustrations. The focus is on the characters, human and equine. Backgrounds are merely hints of contexts. What dominates the images are the large, white, round, ping-pong-ball eyes of all the characters. They help convey emotions, those of the crowd's anxiety as the watch the race, of the horses as they eye each other in the race, etc. This version of history emphasizes the positive with a light-hearted touch. There are notes adding additional information, and a bibliography. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

Meghan McCarthy is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. She is the award-winning author and illustrator of many books for children, including Aliens Are Coming!: The True Account of the 1938 War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast, which was named a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year, and an ALA Notable Book; Strong Man: The Story of Charles Atlas, a Booklist Best Book; and City Hawk: The Story of Pale Male. Ms. McCarthy lives in New York City, where she works as a bookseller. Visit her online at www.meghan-mccarthy.com.