Selected Horse Fiction
I like to offer a few carefully screened, wholesome horse books from other authors.
Fritz and the Beautiful Horses was written and illustrated by Jan Brett, in 1981. I believe it was her first published book. It was read many times by my daughters when they were young - and still is one of my favorites!
The message of the book is similar to book 5, Outward Appearances, in my Sonrise Stable series. What you are on the outside is not nearly as important as what you are on the inside.
It's a simple story, beautifully illustrated by Brett. Little Fritz is just adorable, despite what the snobby townspeople think. :)
When a bridge cracks and the town's beautiful horse are afraid to go down the steep banks to rescue the children on the other side, Fritz comes to the rescue!
After that, Fritz is allowed into the city, and although it's not explicitly stated, my understanding is that the townspeople came to realize their values needed some re-evaluating.
Paperback
32 pages
Most of Marguerite Henry's horse books are chapter books, however she did write a few shorter ones. This is my favorite of her picture books.
It's difficult in a short book to develop a very strong story, but Henry does a great job with Five O'Clock Charlie. The story has a wonderful message, and the illustrations are beautiful.
At 28, Charlie is considered too old to work on the farm any longer. However, he doesn't feel old and is bored with his retirement. Charlie discovers there is something he can do.
Paperback: 48 pages
I absolutely loved these books when I was a kid! That's been many, many years ago. :)
The books are short, with many illustrations by the author, C.W. Anderson. They're suitable as read-alouds for young children. Beginning readers may be able to read them on their own. The books say for ages 5 to 8.
This is a 3-book set, including the first three titles in the Billy and Blaze series:
Billy and Blaze (first published: 1936) 50 pages
Blaze and the Forest Fire (1938) 48 pages
Blaze Finds the Trail (1950) 44 pages
Told in the first person as if written by the horse, Beautiful Jim himself, this picture book relates the story of the remarkable animal whose owner, former slave Doc Key, taught to read, write, and do math. Through excerpts from Jim's diary, along with the story's text, we learn how Doc and Jim performed all over the United States, even for two presidents, while promoting kindness to animals.
Beautiful Jim Key was a real horse, born in 1889. To learn even more about Jim and his owner, Doc Key, check out Horsestory Volume II.
Beautiful Jim: The World's Smartest Horse by Jodie Parachini
Hardcover: 32 pages
ISBN: 978-0807506110
Recommended ages: 4 - 8 years
Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.25 x 10.5 inches
The Pack Horse Library Project was a Works Progress Administration (WPA) program that delivered books to remote regions in the Appalachian Mountains between 1935 and 1943.
In this picture book, a young woman named Anna Mary is representative of the real-life horseback librarians who helped keep the love of books alive in Appalachia during the Great Depression.
The Pack Horse Librarians were real. They will be featured in the upcoming Horsestory Volume III.
The Horseback Librarians by Jane Yolen
Hardcover: 32 pages
ISBN: 978-0807562918
Recommended ages: 4 - 8 years
Dimensions: 9.5 x 0.5 x 8.8 inches
It's debatable whether Bill Cody actually rode for the Pony Express, but this colorful hardcover picture book contains wonderful illustrations and rhyming text that bring the Pony Express to life for the young.
"Horses nicker, heart beats quicker, saddle up for the Pony Express."
This book recounts the legend that Will Cody (later known as Buffalo Bill) rode for the Pony Express at the age of fifteen. His most famous ride supposedly covered 322 miles, required 21 horses, and took over 21 hours to complete. The last two pages provide factual information about Cody and the Pony Express
Find out more factual information about the Pony Express in Horsestory Volume I.
Ride On, Will Cody!: A Legend of the Pony Express by Caroline Starr Rose
Hardcover: 32 pages
ISBN: 978-0807570685
Recommended ages : 4 - 8 years
Dimensions : 8 x 0.4 x 10 inches
This hardcover, unabridged edition of Black Beauty, illustrated by British artist, Christian Birmingham, I believe, is the most beautifully illustrated version of the book ever!
Beauty passes through the hands of many masters ― some kind, some cruel ― in this classic. Narrated from the horse's perspective, Black Beauty tells a moving story of courage in the face of adversity and the healing power of love and kindness.
Anna Sewell was a devout Christian. Her faith was a primary motivation for writing Black Beauty.
In many abridgements or movie versions, the Christian content is removed, however In this complete, unabridged version of her work, her Christian beliefs come through. An example from chapter 13:
“cruelty was the Devil’s own trademark, and if we saw any one who took pleasure in cruelty, we might know who he belonged to, for the devil was a murderer from the beginning, and a tormentor to the end. On the other hand, where we saw people who loved their neighbours, and were kind to man and beast, we might know that was God’s mark, for ‘God is Love.’”
Hardcover
240 Pages
Dimensions: 8" x 9.5"
If you're a Black Beauty lover, consider this interactive video course to go along with your book!
Black Beauty Interactive Video Course