{"product_id":"horse-diaries-2-bells-star-isbn-9780375852046","title":"Horse Diaries #2: Bell's Star","description":"Vermont, 1850s\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBell’s Star is a brown Morgan colt with a white star and two white stockings. He was bred for hard work, yet he longs to run free with his human friend, Katie, on his back. But when Star helps rescue a runaway slave girl, his ideas about freedom may change forever. Here is Star’s story . . . in his own words. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith exciting and knowledgeable text and lovely black-and-white art throughout—both by real horse owners—Horse Diaries are the perfect fit for all lovers of horses and history!Alison Hart has been horse crazy ever since she can remember. A teacher and author, she has written over 20 books for children, most of them about horses. Her novel \u003ci\u003eShadow Horse \u003c\/i\u003ewas nominated for an Edgar Award. Today, Alison still rides because—you guessed it—she’s still horse crazy! She lives in Mt. Sidney, Virginia.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRuth Sanderson has illustrated books for children of all ages, including \u003ci\u003eSummer Pony \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eWinter Pony. \u003c\/i\u003eShe lives with her family in Ware, Massachusetts, and her favorite hobby is horseback riding.Vermont, Early Spring 1850\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI was born in a rocky paddock on a cloudy night. Light snow fell from the sky, covering my brown fur with white. My mother’s tongue washed over me and warmed my skin. Soon she nudged me, urging me to stand.\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eRise, \u003c\/i\u003eshe told me. \u003ci\u003eDanger can hide in the dark woods.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eI scrambled to my feet. My long legs were sturdy, my body stout. I nursed, and my mother’s milk gave me strength. I hopped in the snow, trying out my legs. Mother smiled proudly as I trotted and leaped. Soon I grew weary. Mother led me into the shed, and sinking onto a soft pile of hay, I slept.\u003cbr\u003eMorning came, and the rising sun broke through the clouds. As soon as it was light, my mother began to teach me.\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThere is so much to learn, \u003c\/i\u003eshe told me. I followed her around the paddock. She touched her nose to all the new things: \u003ci\u003efence,\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003etree, water trough, hay, mud.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eMud \u003c\/i\u003eI learned quickly. As the snow melted, my tiny hooves sank into the sloppy brown mess. I was scrambling onto a dry stump when a fluttering sound startled me.\u003cbr\u003eA bright blue creature landed on the fence. I tensed. \u003ci\u003eIs this danger? \u003c\/i\u003eI asked my mother.\u003cbr\u003eHer muzzle twitched in laughter. \u003ci\u003eNo, my son. That is a blue jay. They are pesky and steal my corn, but they are not danger.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eJumping off the stump, I whinnied to the blue jay. It flew into the trees.\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBlue jays have wings, \u003c\/i\u003emy mother explained. \u003ci\u003eThey are free to fly to wherever they want.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI peered between the fence rails. I wanted to race after the blue jay to the place called \u003ci\u003ewherever they want. \u003c\/i\u003eThe blue jay had disappeared, but outside the paddock were many more new things to explore!\u003cbr\u003eI touched my nose to the railing, but the fence circled my mother and me, penning us in. I checked my back. Did I have wings? All I saw was brown hair.\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eIf only I had wings, \u003c\/i\u003eI thought. \u003ci\u003eI could fly free, too.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eSuddenly a shriek filled the air. I fled behind my mother. I flicked my fuzzy ears.\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eDanger? \u003c\/i\u003eTurning, I peeked from beneath her thick black tail.\u003cbr\u003eA creature leaped over the top railing, landing with a splash in the mud. It was as colorful and noisy as the blue jay, only bigger!\u003cbr\u003eWings spread wide, it hurtled toward me.  Terrified, I turned to run, but my long legs tangled. I fell in a heap. Mud splattered my white star. The giant blue jay plopped on the ground next to me. Its wings wrapped tightly around my neck, and I was trapped!\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eMother, \u003c\/i\u003eI neighed. \u003ci\u003eDanger!\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eBut my mother’s eyes were twinkling.\u003cbr\u003e“Papa! Bell had her foal!” the blue jay cried out.\u003cbr\u003e“I see, Miss Katie,” an even taller blue jay answered. “But, daughter, your joy is scaring him. Let him go so we can see how fine he is.”\u003cbr\u003eThe wings released me. I scrambled to my hooves and rushed to the far side of the paddock. My mother hurried after me and blew into my nostrils.\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eDo not be afraid. Those are humans. The large one is Papa. The small one is Katie. They feed and care for us. In return, we work for them.\u003cbr\u003eWork. \u003c\/i\u003eI did not know that word yet. My mother pushed me forward.  My legs splayed, refusing to move. The human called Papa set a wooden bucket in the paddock.\u003cbr\u003e“Come, Bell,” he called. My mother trotted over. Dipping her head, she ate hungrily.\u003cbr\u003e“You have given us a fine fellow, Bell,” Papa said, patting her neck.\u003cbr\u003eWide-eyed and trembling, I stared at the human called Katie. She stood in the middle of the paddock, her eyes as curious as mine.\u003cbr\u003eThen she held out one wing. This time she walked quietly to me. Her wings were soft when they stole around my neck. Then her cheek pressed against mine, and my trembling stopped.\u003cbr\u003e“He has a white star, just like Bell,” Katie said. “And look, two white legs.”\u003cbr\u003e“He’s a fine-looking Morgan horse. Strong like his dam. Handsome like his sire,” Papa said. “Soon he’ll be able to pull the plow and the carriage.”\u003cbr\u003e“Papa, may I name him?” Katie asked. He nodded. \u003cbr\u003e“I name him Bell’s Star.”\u003cbr\u003e“That’s a grand name for such a small foal,” Papa said.\u003cbr\u003e“One day he \u003ci\u003ewill \u003c\/i\u003ebe grand, I know,” Katie said, scratching my fuzzy mane. “He’ll lead the St. Albans parade like Mr. Jones’s Morgan horse.”\u003cbr\u003e“Let’s hope he grows up to be as grand a worker as Bell,” Papa said. “Our farm needs a Morgan that can pull a plow, not lead a parade.”\u003cbr\u003eI nuzzled Katie’s arm. I didn’t know \u003ci\u003egrand \u003c\/i\u003eor \u003ci\u003eparade, \u003c\/i\u003ebut I wanted to show her I no\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003elonger thought she was \u003ci\u003edanger.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“Oh, Papa,” Katie sighed, her breath tickling my whiskers. “I love him already.”\u003cbr\u003e“We’ll give Bell a day of rest,” Papa said. “Then it’s back to work tomorrow.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eWork. \u003c\/i\u003eThere was that word again. That morning, with Katie’s arms around my neck, I thought nothing more of it.\u003cbr\u003eBut soon I would know what it meant.","brand":"Random House Books for Young Readers","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46301649895653,"sku":"NP9780375852046","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780375852046.jpg?v=1767729232","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/horse-diaries-2-bells-star-isbn-9780375852046","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}