Blind Tom: The Horse Who Helped Build the Great Railroad. Dieser Artikel ist nicht verfügbar.Blind Tom: The Horse Who Helped Build the Great Railroad

Everyone knows that trains helped build the West, but few know the story of Blind Tom, a sightless workhorse who pulled flatcars for construction crews on the world’s first transcontinental rail-road. Stalwartly pulling his heavy load through rain, mud, and snow, Tom contributed in his own way to American history. Although Tom was blind, his strength and spirit led him to be chosen as the lead horse for the Union Pacific line. Hardworking, patient, and loyal, he was the pride of the UPRR. Telegraph operators tracked the rail workers’ daily progress by asking, “Where’s Blind Tom today?” He even became a minor celebrity as reporters around the country picked up the story of the tenacious blind horse. As informative as it is entertaining, this charmingly illustrated book includes a map of the railroad route, a “Things to Know” page, and a list of museums and Web sites with information about railroad history.

AUTHOR: Shirley Raye Redmond grew up on the island of Okinawa, Japan. After earning a master’s degree in literature from the University of Illinois, Springfield, she settled in New Mexico, where she worked for many years as a teacher. Shirley Raye is the author of numerous nonfiction books for children, including the award-winning Pigeon Hero! (Simon & Schuster, 2003). She currently lives in Los Alamos with her husband, Bill, and a rambunctious Scottie named Duncan. ILLUSTRATOR: Lois Bradley lives with her husband, daughter, and son in the mountains outside of Albuquerque, where she and her family spend as much time as possible outdoors. Lois grew up in Emporia, Kansas. She is currently a full-time art student at the University of New Mexico. In addition to selling her paintings, she works as a freelance illustrator and designer.