"Giingooo! Giiiingoooooo!" Tamir and the other young jockeys sing to their horses in wailing, high-pitched voices. They are getting ready to ride in the Naadam, the Mongolian summer festival. Tamir is one of many boys and girls who will race half-wild horses across the open desert for honor and glory.
It is these legendary child jockeys that Ted and Betsy Lewin have traveled to Mongolia to see. In the camp of the horse trainers, the Lewins marvel at the skill of the riders as they "sweat up" their horses, galloping by in swirls of dust and thundering hooves. On the day of the big race, everyone is up before sunrise, watching the riders begin their long trek to the starting line. Will Tamir be able to keep control of his horse during the fourteen-mile race? Who will emerge as the winner as the shimmering dust cloud of riders approaches the finish line?
With a contagious love of travel and adventure, and vivid, action-packed paintings, Ted and Betsy Lewin invite readers to experience the unique thrill of a Naadam horse race. "Giiiingoooooo!"
Awards
Original Art Traveling Exhibition
Society of Illustrators
ALA Notable Children's Book
American Library Association (ALA)
"Starred Review"
ALA Booklist
Best Children's Books of the Year
Bank Street College of Education
Parents' Choice Recommended Winner
Interest Level
Grades 1 - 5
Reading Level
Grades 4 and up
Themes
Animals, Asian/Asian American Interest, Cultural diversity, Family Traditions, Holidays & Celebrations, Sports
"The Lewins follow travelogue titles such as Top to Bottom Down Under (2005) with another picture-book chronicle of international adventure. This time, they visit Mongolia, where they witnessed the Naadam festival-a celebration that brings together nomadic tribes for sports competitions. The most popular events are the horse races featuring child jockeys who guide their "half-wild" steeds through along, arduous course. In simple, captivating language, the Lewins describe their long journey to the horse trainers' camp, where they connect with a skilled nine-year-old jockey, Tamir, and his family, and learn about local customs-from the specifics of Mongolian horse wrangling to staple foods, such as mares' milk. Then the festival begins, and the authors give a heart-pounding, moment-by-moment account of Tamir's race: "The crowd strains forward. The pounding of hooves grows louder . . . The stallions are at full gallop." Throughout, clearly presented cultural specifics mix with vivid sensory perceptions that will help children imagine themselves on the windy steppes, but it's the color-washed sketches and beautiful full-page spreads of the thundering horses and jubilant festival goers that will truly capture readers' attention and draw them into this handsome, heartfelt glimpse of a rarely explored culture. Children, and teachers, seeking more information will appreciate the closing spreads, which include additional cultural commentary and a glossary."
Booklist
"Betsy Lewin's lively line-and-wash cartoon sketches and spot drawings are intermingled with Ted Lewin's sweeping watercolor paintings, which make effective use of light and rich color to portray both the intensity of the competition and the pageantry of the celebration. . . . The book provides a dynamic view of a culture rarely portrayed in children's books and an event that is sure to interest many young readers."
School Library Journal
"Bright, realistic illustrations . . . this sojourn will not only take armchair travelers to the other side of the planet, it'll make them feel comfortable and welcome when they arrive."
Kirkus Reviews
"Lively text and luscious watercolors depict daily life and capture the excitement as nine-year-old Tamir races a half-wild stallion to hoped-for victory."
Curriculum Connections, School Library Journal
Betsy Lewin and her husband, Ted, have been traveling the globe in search of adventure for more than forty years. They have written several books highlighting the people and animals they have encountered in their travels, including Balarama: A Royal Elephant and Horse Song: The Naadam of Mongolia. Betsy was the recipient of a Caldecott Medal Honor in 2001 for Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type.
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