Hans Brinker (or The Silver Skates) by Mary Maples Dodge Nature Guides the Philadelphia Museum of Art

the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Mesa Verde

and the author of the picture books The Gold Leaf

for whom it was written

the year it was a New York Times Outstanding Book Selection

Hans Brinker (or The Silver Skates) by Mary Maples Dodge Nature Guides the Philadelphia Museum of ArtThe prize for winning the canal race is a pair of silver skates, but how can Hans or his sister, Gretel, hope to win skating with their handmade wooden skates? Since falling from a dike and hitting his head Hans' father has been unable to work, forcing Hans, Gretel, and their mother to find ways to pay the bills. With barely enough to go around there isn't much left over for fancy skates, but when Hans saves up enough for his own pair and a chance to