Chico

By Sandra Day O'Connor and Irving Whitall Lyon

Book Overview

Sandra loves ranch life. Most of all, she loves riding her pony, Chico. But a ride to visit a new calf ends in a terrifying encounter with a rattlesnake. Sandra learns an important lesson about taking care of herself and her horse--and about overcoming her fears. In this story, based on a true-life incident, young Sandra demonstrates the forthright spirit that gave her the courage and confidence to become the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. Her adventure with Chico in the desert landscape is breathtakingly rendered by celebrated painter Dan Andreasen.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0525474528
• ISBN13: 9780525474524
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Dutton Children's Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.7" x 11.2"
• Age Range: 5 to 10 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 5

Customer Reviews

great book for grandchild

this proved to be a wonderful book for my 11 yr. old granddaughter who is in love with horses. she read it immediately and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Chico made me wish I had grown up on a ranch

Chico is a quiet story about the relationship between a girl and her horse. The first woman Supreme Court justice has written an engaging story about her childhood and growing up on an Arizona ranch. The illustrations by Dan Andreasen are exceptional. I've probably read the story to my granddaughters a dozen times, but when I pick it up for myself, I look at the illustrations. If your daughter likes animals or dreams about becoming a cowgirl, you can't go wrong with Chico. The Shut Mouth Society The Shopkeeper

Loved it

As a school librarian, I found this an excellent book to add to our collection. It is just the right length to read to a class when they visit the library. Most of the students were amazed to find out this is based on a true story. The illustrations by Dan Andreasen are absolutley beautiful and accompany every page of text.

Generates curiosity in a child!

The illsutrations are delightful. I read this book with my niece and nephew, both New York City kids. They were enchanted by the birth of the calf, the rattlesnake, the antelope and the beautiful Chico. At the end of the reading, they said, "We want to go see where Sandra lives and look for the rainbow." When a story generates curiosity in a child, I consider the author's mission accomplished!

An Engaging Story About A Responsible Little Girl

Justice O'Connor's "Chico" summarizes a day out riding with her horse - Chico. Hearing of a new calf, she wants to see it, and rides out far from sight of her home. Sandra finds the calf, but knows she cannot pet it because the mother is near. On the way home, Chico is frightened by a rattlesnake and Sandra nearly loses her seating. Fortunately she holds on and returns home where she tells her father about her adventure. They then return to the area in their truck, and Sandra gets to pet the calf. On the way home, Sandra asks if they can drive to the end of a rainbow - her father reminds her that they need to be home for dinner. "Chico" also briefly summarizes the chores that young Sandra performed while living on the farm.