If I Was a Horse

Coming Soon

Contributors

By Sophie Blackall

Formats and Prices

Price

$18.99

Price

$23.99 CAD

Format

Hardcover

Format:

Hardcover $18.99 $23.99 CAD

In her funniest book yet, two-time Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall captures the astonishing spectacle of a child imagining life as a horse. And with a book jacket adorned with glitter, this romp really sparkles!

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.

Genre:

  • A Kids’ Indie Next List Pick

  • "Charming and whimsical visual surprises are found throughout the impeccably designed pages…An exquisite equine fantasy, this encourages imaginations to giddyup and run wild and free."

    Booklist, starred review

  • "Delightful…[with] colorful, sweet, gently humorous illustrations…There’ll be no neigh-sayers for this one."

    Kirkus

  • "Detailed and nuanced. . . There’s a sensitive heart and sharp eye in the humor here."

    Horn Book

  • "Throughout this cozy view of longed-for freedoms in childhood, Blackall’s signature-style illustrations summon giggles…"

    Publishers Weekly

  • Praise for Farmhouse:
    A 2022 KIRKUS BEST CHILDREN’S BOOK
    A 2022 SLJ BEST BOOK
    A HORN BOOK FANFARE
    A 2022 PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST BOOK
    A 2022 BOOKPAGE BEST BOOK
    A 2022 WASHINGTON POST BEST BOOK
    A 2022 NYTIMES BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK
    AN NPR BEST BOOK OF 2022
    A 2022 BOOKLIST EDITORS’ CHOICE
    GOOD HOUSEKEEPING BEST KIDS’ BOOKS OF 2022
    2023 ALSC NOTABLE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
    2023 CCBC CHILDREN’S CHOICES LIST
    2023 BANK ST COLLEGE BEST BOOKS

  • "A lovely, tender reimagination of people in a long-past time and place."

    Kirkus, starred review

  • "A love letter to the joys of country living and family life as well as the importance of treasuring the past and all its stories."

    School Library Journal, starred review

  • "The tale’s strong sense of place undergirds Blackall’s witness to the way environments change over time and stories survive long after material objects disappear, in a thoughtful, expertly executed work that looks simultaneously forward and back."

    Publishers Weekly, starred review

  • "Blackall’s illustrations are everything here, incorporating wallpaper, fabrics, and other items scavenged from the house melded together with ink, watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil to create vibrantly layered compositions with a tactile quality."

    Horn Book, starred review

  • "Genuinely captivating...A meditation on the creative process...Multifaceted and arresting...Irresistible."

    Booklist, starred review

  • "A tender, layered masterpiece that itself deserves to be passed along for generations."

    New York Times

  • "A sophisticated, openhearted ode to what truly makes a house a home...Vividly realized...."

    BookPage, starred review

  • Praise for Hello Lighthouse:

    A New York Times Bestseller and Caldecott Winner

     "Blackall's charmingly old-fashioned art style is beautifully matched to this nostalgia-rich story, which imbues an antiquated place with warmth and wonder."

    Booklist, starred review

  • "A delightful bedtime read perfect for one on one sharing."

    School Library Journal, starred review

  • "It's a jewel of a creation and a gift to those who dream of retreat."

    Publishers Weekly, starred review

  • "I will be surprised if a more exquisite picture book will be published this year...Children will be fascinated..."

    New York Times Book Review

  • Praise for Finding Winnie:

    A #1 New York Times bestseller and Winner of the 2016 Caldecott Medal
    A New York Times Notable Children's Book of the Year

  • "The sum total is as captivating as it is informative, transforming a personal family story into something universally resonant."

    Horn Book, starred review

  • "Little ones who love Milne's classic stories will be enchanted by this heartening account of the bear's real-life origins."

    Booklist, starred review

  • "A perfect melding of beautiful art with soulful, imaginative writing, this lovely story, penned by Colebourn's great-great granddaughter, is ideal for sharing aloud or poring over individually."

    School Library Journal, starred review

  • "The book strikes a lovely, understated tone of wonder and family pride...[Sophie Blackall] proves that she's equally imaginative at chronicling straight-on reality too."

    Publishers Weekly, starred review

  • "Gorgeously illustrated...[a] delightful telling."

    New York Times Book Review

  • "Exquisite."

    Wall Street Journal

On Sale
Oct 3, 2023
Page Count
32 pages
ISBN-13
9780316510981

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL INDIE!

Preorder IF I WAS A HORSE at participating locations to receive a signed art print.

Limited quantities available per store. Please contact store to confirm availability at that location.

Sophie Blackall

About the Author

Sophie Blackall is the bestselling and two-time Caldecott medal-winning artist behind Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous BearHello, Lighthouse and Farmhouse. She is also the proprietor of Milkwood, a creative retreat for children’s book makers. She lives between Brooklyn and a farm in upstate New York. 

Learn more about this author