Horse Picture Books for the Year of the Horse
The Year of the Horse is here! A year said to be filled with freedom, courage, and taking risks. After the Year of the Snake (centered around focus, and steady progress) I am so excited for this change in pace and to gallop into new adventures! To ring in the new year, we wanted to share some stories about horses to get you and your young reader excited for this new energy!
If you were a horse, what would you do? Could you fit in your clothes? Would you give your little sister a ride? Would your brother even notice?
Gallop along with two-time Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall through this riotous day in the life of a child who imagines their life as a horse. What ensues are uproarious, resonant episodes that feature a giant horse in familiar settings offering both a visual feast, a grand dose of joy, and a celebration of the real power of imagination to help us navigate the world.
In this gorgeously rendered tale, Audrey Helen Weber masterfully blends suspense and nonsense, imaginative artwork, and a flawless rhythm that evokes some of the most beloved read-aloud classics, from Mother Goose to Eric Carle.
On the day the horse got out . .
the bells all rang,
the birds flew south,
the rabbit dug a bit too deep,
and the beetle cried out in its sleep…
But what happened to the horse? Did she find what she was looking for? Drawing on the influence of nursery rhymes, fables, folklore, folk art, and mythology—and combined with Audrey Helen Weber’s own playful and surreal sensibility, page-turning suspense and read-aloud magic—here is a transcendent journey that tells a new story with every read.
I want a pony.
I want a pony more than anything in the world.
A little girl who longs for a pony draws pictures of a dappled mare she names Silver, then rides her through a magical countryside in her dreams. At the heart of Susan Jeffers’s exquisite picture book lies the idea that in her imagination, a child can journey anywhere and do anything—even fly through the stars on her very own pony.
Susan Jeffers effortlessly captures the grace and wonder of horses in this luminous picture book.
Maxine Louise is super excited about the extra special gift her Uncle Dave sent her. Her mom? Not so much. But Maxine Louise insists that there is nothing to worry about—ponies love apartments! After all, the apartment is the pony’s natural habitat. They love elevators and bunkbeds and the late-night news. And feeding the pony will be a breeze since ponies famously love leftovers.
Can Maxine Louise convince her mom to let her keep her new pet?
Saddle up—it’s time for adventure! Cowboys and Cowgirls captures all the excitement of the Old West, from cattle drives to roping, rustling, and rodeos. Celebrated nonfiction children’s book creator Gail Gibbons’s cheerful watercolors and clear text deftly detail the cattle farmers’ clothing, equipment, and lifestyle, while the lively back matter highlights famous Wild West personalities and historical facts. Embellished with helpful labels, cattle brands, a trail map, and even a campfire song, Cowboys and Cowgirls will delight, excite, and inform every young buckaroo. YIPPEE-YAY!
