20 Horse Books to Trigger Love of Reading
Posted on April 18, 2010 by Suzan Woodard in Personal Experiences.
Tags: Big Universe, children's authors, Horse Books, Pony, Reading List
“Horses lend us wings we lack,” remarked contemporary author Pam Brown. Just like books. Put the two together and you get a dynamic duo.
In all of the animal kingdom, I doubt there has been a creature more able to elicit a poetic response in humans than the noble horse. “A horse is the projection of people’s dreams about themselves – strong, powerful, beautiful – and it has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence,” Brown said.
Primitive man drew horses in caves. Chinese artists put paint on paper and fashioned glazed pottery during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D) to capture the essence of equines. Italian Renaissance man Leonardo da Vinci designed a colossal 24-foot horse sculpture, and while the original clay structure was destroyed during war time, the piece has fostered speculation and stories ever since.
A retired American was so enamored that he raised funds to have Leonardo’s “Great Bronze Horse” reconstructed and cast in bronze centuries later. Problems ensued. Eventually, with the help of dozens of artisans and corporate financial backing, the towering sculpture was completed. It is displayed in Milan and a companion sculpture – the American Horse – resides in Michigan’s Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park.
Even William Shakespeare heard the sirens’ call of the alluring beast. “When I bestride him, I soar. I am a hawk. He trots the air; the earth sings when he touches it.”
Shakespeare’s words ring true with me – a horse lover since my earliest years. I just KNEW there would be a pony under the Christmas tree each year…or at least a promissory note. Come Boxing Day, I would return to my horse books and secretly vow to wish a little harder, dream bigger and be better behaved for at least three months – 12 if necessary. (My birthday is in March.)
“Children the world over are fascinated by, and drawn to, horses,” said the author of the article “Ponies Belong in a Homeschool Curriculum!” on Sharon’s Corner Bookstore website. “Books about horses are fun to read. As an educator, take advantage of your child’s interest.”
I couldn’t agree more. That’s why I was happy to see the recent addition of “Horses” on Big Universe. Written by Emily K. Green, “Horses” is aimed at Level 1 beginning readers and K-3 interest level. It is part of Bellwether’s Blastoff! Readers series and features light text, predictable sentence patterns and strong visual support.
Rourke Publishing, another Big Universe publishing partner, also has a drawing book titled “Horses.” It is written by Ann Becker and is aimed at 9- to 12-year-olds, reading at Grade Level 4, Reading Level R. Several Big Universe members have also written and illustrated their own horse books with the website’s Authoring Tool.
Here’s a list of 20 other classic horse tales and picture books for younger readers.
20 Horse Books to Trigger Love of Reading
- “Black Beauty” by Anna Sewell
- “Seneca” by Karen L. Baker
- “The Sleep Ponies” by Gudrun Ongman
- “My Friend Flicka” by Mary O’Hara
- “Gib Rides Home” by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
- “Smokey the Cowhorse” by Will James
- “The Black Stallion” by Walter Farley
- “The White Pony” by Sandra Byrd
- “Fritz and the Beautiful Horses” by Jan Brett
- “The Island Stallion” by Walter Farley
- “My Pony Jack” by Cari Meister
- “King of the Wind” by Marguerite Henry
- “Runaway Radish” by Jessie Haas
- “Misty of Chincoteague” by Marguerite Henry
- “Born to Dance” by Katherine Reynolds
- “Hot on the Range” by RD Jentsch
- “Mrs. Mack” by Patricia Polacco
- “Justin Morgan Had a Horse” by Marguerite Henry
- “The Wild Little Horse” by Rita Gray
- “I Wonder Why Horses Wear Shoes: And Other Questions About Horses” by Jackie Gaff
[...] I list additional children’s picture books in my blog “20 Horse Books to Trigger Love of Reading.” To find other high-interest series, check out Bearport Publishing’s narrative non-fiction [...]
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