Published: October 15, 2024
Pages: 224
Grade Level: 4th - 8th
ISBN: 978-1338882339
I hope you have had the opportunity to see the famous Lipizzaner stallions perform in person, but if you have not, after reading this book, you certainly will want to.
World War II was nearing its end. Bombings were raining down in Germany and also in Austria. The famed Spanish Riding School where the Lipazzaners train and perform was also in danger. Alios Podhajsky, the director of the school, knew that he needed to do something to save these magnificent horses and quickly. He began to appeal to others for help and the United States became the help that was needed. Many people played a role in the evacuation of the horses - both the stallions in Austria and the mares and foals at a stud farm in Czechoslovakia. The evacuation was named Operation Cowboy.
The horses finally returned to Austria in 1955. In 1963, Walt Disney made a movie about the Lipazzaner horses, and their rescue titled Miracle of the White Stallions.
Deborah Hopkinson writes historical fiction and non-fiction. She is an award-winning author who has written over 70 books for children including picture books and chapter books. She lived in the Portland, Oregon area with her husband and her dogs and a cat. Illustrations are photographs and primary resources of incidents that happened in the story.
Reviewed by Audrey Campbell, MED
Reading Specialist and Library Media Center Director
Valley Adventist Schools, Rogers Campus
Authors: Harry K. Wong and Rosemary T. Wong
