Rusty and the River: A Rusty the Ranch Horse Tale by Wyoming’s Mary Fichtner and illustrated by her daughter Roz Fichtner has been selected for the “Discover Great Places Through Reading” list for the National Book Festival. The festival will be held Saturday, August 31, in Washington, D.C.
“Discover Great Places Through Reading” is an annual list of books representing the literary heritage of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The list is distributed by the Library of Congress’s Center for the Book during the National Book Festival.
Rusty and the River was selected by the Wyoming State Library as part of its Center for the Book program. Each book is selected by a Center for the Book state affiliate or state library, and most are for children and young readers. Books may be written by authors from the state, take place in the state, or celebrate the state’s culture and heritage.
Mary and Roz Fichtner, now in Casper, lived in Cheyenne many years. Mary is a graduate of the University of Wyoming, and rodeo was her sport from 10 years old through college. She is certified in equine assisted learning to help veterans and families. Her daughter Roz attends college at the University of Wyoming where she has competed on the rodeo team and is pursuing a degree in Art Education.
(L to R) Roz and Mary Fichtner with the real-life Rusty the Ranch Horse.
Their books include, Rusty Under the Western Skies (Reader’s Favorite Five Star Award), Rusty Goes to Frontier Days, Rusty and His Saddle, Rusty and the Pot of Gold and the first of a new series called The Big Battle of Thunder the Smallest War Horse. Rusty and Thunder live in a beautiful place in the west by the Platte River where they enjoy grazing and gentle breezes. Rusty is a retired ranch horse and his small companion Thunder never leaves his side.
The full “Discover Great Places Through Reading” list may be found on the Library of Congress website at www.read.gov/greatreads/. To learn more about the Fichtners, visit www.rustytheranchhorse.com.