above: Wild mustangs on the American western plains
Wild Horse Annie -Friend of the Mustangs, written by Tracey Fern & illustrated by Steven Salerno -published by Farrar Straus Giroux, 2019
The inspiring true story of American Velma Bronn Johnston (1912-1977), horse lover and animal-rights activist who was the driving force behind Federal Laws passed in the early 1970’s protecting the lives of wild horses and burros on public lands… and how she elicited help from thousands of children to bring attention to this pressing issue.
“Salerno’s full-page mixed-media illustrations exude the expanse of the West and invite intimacy with Annie all while maintaining a playful air of adventure. Readers will root for Annie and the mustangs she fought to protect” -School Library Journal
“Salerno's sun-drenched illustrations capture the equally hardy spirits of the mustangs and Annie herself. . . An uplifting tale of animal rights, perseverance, and kids' power to make a difference” -Kirkus Reviews
“Salerno’s illustrations combine loping lines, sketched details, and rubbed textures to conjure the vanished west of the mid-20th century, and they cleverly balance a running mustang herd with letters stampeding from Annie’s typewriter” -Publishers Weekly
“This look at how one motivated individual and an army of young idealists can effect change may leave readers with the encouragement needed to tackle their own campaigns” -The Horn Book
- -A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
- A 2020 Green Earth Book Award for Picture Books
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above: cover of Wild Horse Annie -Friend of the Mustangs -the cover is derived from one of the inside of the book illustrations, which depicts Annie, whose body was bent and twisted from childhood polio, dreaming of soaring with the wild mustangs…
- A Junior Library Guild GOLD STANDARD Selection
see Steven’s complete list of published picture books to date
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above: young Velma learning to ride by her father -atop his horse Baldy on their ranch in Nevada.
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above: in 1923 Velma was suddenly stricken by polio and spent a long time in the hospital in a body cast… But the disease left her spine permanently bent and her face twisted. Eventually she was able to ride ride horses again, and her love for these beautiful animals only grew stronger…
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above: (cropped view) Velma arriving in Washington DC with some of her participating “pencil brigade” members and the the thousands of letters they’ve written in support of saving wild horses.
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above: a rough preliminary pencil & ink wash sketch, depicting hunters killing wild mustangs… Millions of them were killed by cattle ranchers protecting their grazing lands, or by hunters selling them to slaughterhouses for pet foods and fertilizers.
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above: (cropped view) Velma discovering cattle trucks loaded with wild horses are bringing them to slaughterhouses to be killed for pet foods and fertilizers.
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above: Wild Horse Annie sitting at her kitchen table on the ranch typing letter after letter after letter to Senators, Congressmen, and other lawmakers encouraging them to take action to protect all wild horse…
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above: (cropped view) the adult Velma Bronn Johnston (having earned her nickname: Wild Horse Annie) appearing before State senators and legislators enlightening them on the pressing issue of wild horses and burros being slaughtered…
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above: (cropped view) the thousands of letters sent to Washington DC from children from all over the country -expressing their concern about the plight of wild horses in America… letters the children wrote to assist Wild Horse Annie and her campaign to save all wild horses and burros.
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above: one of the refined pencil sketch stages, which was then scanned into Photoshop for some additional slight touches of color added. Here is Wild Horse Annie riding her horse, with wild mustangs seen in the background running free…