Scott O'Dell vividly recounts the story of the poorest village in all of Mexico some two hundred years ago; of three brothers who were eager to get as much silver from the Mexican earth and into their own pockets and the treasure chests of the King of Spain, no matter the consequence to man or beast; and of Father Bruno's attempts to save the villagers from starvation and the slavery of the silver mines.
But the story really belongs to Tiger and Leandro, two much-loved burros from the village of Topo-el-Bampo, who find themselves carrying the heavy silver bars on the long and dangerous journey to the harbor. Tiger, small and mild, with a natural attraction to the path that leads to his old home in the village, and Leandro, the color of chocolate pudding, who because of his size carries three bars of silver instead of two, unexpectedly become the saviors of the village of Topo-el-Bampo.
It is with his extraordinary insight and sensitivity to man and the human condition that Newbery Award winner Scott O'Dell relates this story of Topo-el- Bampo, combining his many talents as author with the striking two-color tempera illustrations of Caldecott Award winner Lynd Ward.
—from the dust jacket
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