Tomboy doesn’t like being hemmed in by the thick NZ bush around him. Carrying heavy packs and his woman rider doesn’t please him either. But Caroline
Chevalier is kind, understanding and patient with him, so he strives to do his best for her.
Tomboy is part of a group of four horses and three people. The trek is long from Christchurch to the West Coast of the South Island of NZ and back again. They must travel through bush, across raging rivers and soaring mountains, following the path Maori have done for many years before them.
Crossing over Arthur’s Pass on barely-there tracks, spending many nights in tents, and sleeping on ferns, it is a long, hard journey – and the first time a European woman has travelled it. Documenting their travels, this English couple enjoy the stunning beauty of the New Zealand bush, beaches and vistas they see. When they finally reach their destination, they are not the only ones changed by the journey.
As soon as you see the first double page spread of this book, you understand this is going to be an epic tale of adventure.
Following the journey of Nicholas Chevalier and his wife Caroline on horseback from Christchurch to the West Coast and back, Tomboy the Headstrong Pony is a true tale from 1866 New Zealand.
Working for the Canterbury Provincial Council, Nicholas captured the NZ landscape, birds and bush in his paintings and sketches, and Caroline wrote daily diary entries of their travels.
Caroline’s pony named Tomboy is a boisterous horse, and the growing bond between them is a heartwarming part of this true tale.
Tomboy the Headstrong Pony is the 4th book in this series by this award winning creative duo, telling tales of historic New Zealand, featuring remarkable animals. This series is perfect for those young readers 5+ ready for more text in their picture books.
Author – Susan Brocker
Illustrator – Raymond McGrath
Publisher – Scholastic NZ
Age – 5+
For more in this series, click on the titles below:
(2025, Scholastic NZ, Aotearoa New Zealand, NZ Author, NZ Illustrator, Animal, Historical, Horse, Series, Based on truth, True Stitch, Artist, Diary, Caroline Chevalier, Nicholas Chevalier, 1866, Southern Alps, West Coast, Courage)