The Curlytops at Uncle Frank's Ranch; Or, Little Folks on Ponyback

The Martin children, known to neighbors as the Curlytops because of the wild ringlets crowning their heads, spend a drizzly Saturday arguing over the next make‑believe game. Ted, tired of playing doctor, refuses to be a soldier without a gun, while his sister Jan scrambles to invent a Red Cross nurse’s tent and “sugar pills” to keep the drama alive. Their spirited quarrel soon turns to a plan for real adventure, and they set their sights on Uncle Frank’s ranch, where ponies and open sky promise the excitement they crave.

At the ranch the siblings discover a sprightly little pony named Trouble, whose playful antics send them careening over fences, through dusty trails, and into the bustling life of a working cattle ranch. Along the way they meet kindly cowhands, learn the rhythms of roundup and round‑up, and face small crises that call for quick thinking and teamwork. The early chapters blend humor and gentle lessons, inviting listeners to share in the wholesome thrills of childhood curiosity and the wide‑open West.