Synopses & Reviews
Review
“Jerry once again gives his readers a fencerow view of farming practices in the early half of the 20th century. . . . The entire book is a wonderful history lesson that goes beyond the ‘seasons’ of working the soil and tending livestock. His description of the need for those early labor-saving machines and how eager farmers were to get them is an excellent portrayal of the evolution of farm equipment. Successful farmers—then and now—were not afraid to try something new.” —Joan Sanstadt, News Editor, Agri-View
Review
“Jerry Apps is a master storyteller, both in person and in his books. In Horse-Drawn Days, Jerry provides a good mix of history, information, and the storytelling that his fans have come to appreciate. The book offers information about work horses that might otherwise be lost if it wasn’t written down. It was an important time in our history, and there aren’t that many people who can remember those days. And there especially aren’t many people who can tell the story as well as Jerry Apps.” —Jim Massey, editor, The Country Today
Review
“
Horse-Drawn Days adds to Jerry Apps's credentials as the ‘dean’ of Midwest regional writers. The book deftly combines personal narrative, folk culture, mechanical knowledge, and loving tribute to the large horses that long powered rural America. Jerry has produced an excellent history and field guide that will delight those who remember those times and those ways and will intrigue and inform those who missed out. This book belongs on every shelf devoted to rural culture and country living.”
—Dennis Boyer, former draft horse logger and author of Listen to the Land
Review
“As usual, Apps also conveys a pretty strong message of remembering our past and learning from all of it.”
—Pam Jahnke, Farm Director, Farm Report Radio
Review
“As a breeder of Morgan horses for 30 years, I loved Jerry Apps’s accurate and highly readable history of the big-hearted animals who partnered with our forebears in feeding the nation … from the gentle giants who hauled the plows to the plucky light horses that drew the family buggies to town. The book is plumb full of useful information as well as inklings that may well serve our future!” —Annie Randall, owner, Village Booksmith, Baraboo, Wisconsin
Review
"Jerry Apps recalls for me the poignant memories of good times and camaraderie when I worked on the circus 1937 through 1941." (Paul Ringling, grandson of Alf T. Ringling. Paul worked for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus when it was managed by John Ringling North)
"Mr. Apps captured the spirit of the brothers who had a dream, worked together, and persevered to become one of the largest circuses in the world. Not only is this biography a wonderfully entertaining story, but it's narrated in a way that makes the reader feel a part of the growing excitement and adventure of developing a circus. Even though the vocabulary and captivating factual information is geared towards children, this is a book that can be enjoyed by young and old alike because it does resurrect that child in all of us!" (Barbara Bellmer, art specialist and teacher at Brandon School, Brandon, WI)
Synopsis
This addition to the Badger Biographies series for young readers features the story of the young Ringling brothers of circus fame. The book tells the inspiring story of the seven sons of German and French immigrants who were guided by their dreams to escape poverty through hard work and ambition. These entrepreneurial brothers moved with their parents to Baraboo, Wisconsin where their fantastic circus adventure began. With no prior circus experience, the brothers tackled one of the riskiest businesses of the time. Each brother contributed his unique talents to make their enterprise successful. The Ringling brothers were admired for their technological innovations, strategy, and devotion to education. They were also esteemed for their genuine appreciation of their audience.
About the Author
Jerry Apps is Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the author of more than 15 books, many of them on rural history and country life. His nonfiction books include Ringlingville USA, Barns of Wisconsin, Horse-Drawn Days, Old Farm, Every Farm Tells a Story, Country Wisdom, When Chores Were Done, Humor from the Country, Country Ways and Country Days, One-Room County Schools, Cheese, and Breweries of Wisconsin. His children's picture books include Stormy and Eat Rutabagas. Jerry has won numerous awards for his writing from the Wisconsin Library Association, The Council for Wisconsin Writers, Robert E. Gard Foundation, Upper Midwest Booksellers Association, Barnes and Noble Bookstores, and the Wisconsin Historical Society, among others.