Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

Sophia and I just finished reading Marguerite Henry's wonderful book from 1947 - Misty of Chincoteague. It's an American childhood classic and this copy was my mother's growing up - Sophia and I were amused to find her book stamp throughout with her name, address and town stamped everywhere - just in case in were to fall into someone else's hands. I then read this growing up and loved the entire series. So, as you can see - this is a very worn copy.

The story of Misty is based on a true story. Off the coast of Virginia in the States are two islands - Chincoteague - inhabited by people and Assateague - inhabited by wild ponies - which as legend says, were descended from the survivors of a Spanish galleon that wrecked there long ago. Every year, these wild ponies are rounded up and they swim over from Assateague to Chincoteague island where they are auctioned off. The book talks about Maureen and Paul Beebe - who, many years ago, bought a young foal, Misty, along with her mother - The Phantom on one of these Pony Penning Days.

Marguerite Henry went to Chincoteague to write a story about the ponies and met Maureen and Paul. The resulting book is absolutely charming and if you have a child who is obsessed with ponies - do pick up a copy of this book along with the many other's that Marguerite Henry wrote. It is delightfully illustrated by Wesley Dennis.

You can read more about Marguerite and the ponies of Assateague at the Misty of Chincoteague Foundation website.