Book Descriptions
for The True Story of Zippy Chippy by Artie Bennett and Dave Szalay
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
"Zippy Chippy was a racehorse, descended from legends that ran like the wind. He was destined for glory .... The only problem was, when Zippy ran ... it was more like a gentle breeze." An unexpectedly charming sports story is about a horse who never won a single race. In fact, he didn't even always finish his races. Zippy Chippy was spirited and stubborn, which didn't matter to Felix Monserrate , the Puerto Rican man who purchased Zippy Chippy and didn't give up on him . He had a prankish personality and loved sweets. He also loved racing, but always on his own terms. Maybe he'd leave the gate, maybe not. Eventually he was banned from racing at every track but one. But the more races Zippy lost, the more people began paying attention to this quirky horse. They began betting on him ... to win! By the time Zippy was retired from racing he was a celebrity in the racing world. Quirky, sweet, but never sentimental, this offbeat account never makes fun of Zippy but instead celebrates his unique personality and spirit, which are reflected in the tone of both the narrative and illustrations. A note tells more of Zippy's winless yet heralded career and of his current life in retirement. (Ages 5-9)
CCBC Choices 2021. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2021. Used with permission.
From the Publisher
Zippy Chippy is descended from the leading legends of horse racing. He is destined for greatness and glory.
But . . . when the starting bell rings, it’s anybody’s guess what Zippy will do. Will Zippy go for a gentle trot around the track or stop and smell the roses? Or, perhaps, never even leave the starting gate?!
With mischief in his makeup, he’s known to stick his tongue out at people and chew up the hats of passersby. And he’s always trying to break out of his stall. What’s an owner to do? Try and try again! After all, he believes in Zippy—and, besides, the horse is now a part of the family. But as Zippy’s losses mount, a funny thing happens. People start to take notice of the hapless, cupcake-eating horse. Could it be that they’re betting on Zippy to win?
This remarkable story of the famed racehorse who lost every race is sure to win your heart!
But . . . when the starting bell rings, it’s anybody’s guess what Zippy will do. Will Zippy go for a gentle trot around the track or stop and smell the roses? Or, perhaps, never even leave the starting gate?!
With mischief in his makeup, he’s known to stick his tongue out at people and chew up the hats of passersby. And he’s always trying to break out of his stall. What’s an owner to do? Try and try again! After all, he believes in Zippy—and, besides, the horse is now a part of the family. But as Zippy’s losses mount, a funny thing happens. People start to take notice of the hapless, cupcake-eating horse. Could it be that they’re betting on Zippy to win?
This remarkable story of the famed racehorse who lost every race is sure to win your heart!
Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.
