Module 3: King of the Wind

Bibliography: Henry, M. (1948). King of the Wind. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Summary: King of the Wind is the tale of the horseboy Agba and his companion, a bay horse he names Sham. Set during the age of kings and sultans, the story describes the journey of Agba and Sham as they travel from Morocco to France and then England while facing all manner of challenges and hardship along the way. Sham is constantly ridiculed and abused due to his small size which coupled with his proud spirit causes him untold suffering. He is never truly alone however since Agba, and later a cat named Grimalkin, are always there to support him.  Sham eventually gains the recognition and status he deserves with the help of his trustworthy companions.

Impressions: The tale of a boy and his horse struggling to achieve their dreams while plagued by continual misfortune is inspirational stuff indeed. Though some of the language is a bit outdated I think children today can still appreciate the unbreakable spirit of the two companions (and Grimalkin who joins them late in the story) when they are confronted with obstacles to self-betterment.  Henry does an excellent job of developing Sham’s personality making the horse, which in most books is simply treated as a dumb beast of burden, seem like he is almost human.  The illustrations scattered throughout the book are used to good effect – reinforcing important scenes like Sham’s battle with the Louis XV’s chief cook and his triumphant return to Gog Magog.

Review:

“For young readers who love horses, King of the Wind has long been a classic alongside Marguerite Henry's many other beloved horse stories such as Misty of Chincoteague. This one is the tale based on fact, of a swift and spirited Arabian horse sent by the Sultan of Morocco as a gift to Louis XV of France. Unfortunately, Sham (named for the sun), and his young groom Agba are undervalued by the French and end up in England, where they endure some grueling adventures before the Arabian's true value is understood. Readers will find it fascinating that this horse was an ancestor of many famous thoroughbreds, including Man o'War. Children today may find the style a bit ornate and the story rather too heart-rending, but it's still an absorbing tale with a triumphant finish. First published in 1948 and winner of the 1949 Newbery Medal, King of the Wind has been reissued as part of a "Marguerite Henry Library" in a deluxe edition that is essentially the same as the one in print for so long, but with a few useful additions. The original expressive monochrome watercolors by Wesley Dennis are included, and Henry's publisher at Rand McNally has contributed his personal recollections. These features and a "King of the Wind Scrapbook" with photographs and manuscript notes make it a useful addition to a library and an attractive gift for a thoughtful young horse-lover.” Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft

-          Talcroft, B. (2001). King of the Wind Review. Children’s Literature. Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2378/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~yRG2ph:1

Suggestions for Use in a Library:

A librarian can show several photos of Arabian horses to show to a group of children after they read the book.  Ask the children to describe the photos using the terminology they learned from the book.  Ex. His coat is ____.