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Hardcover $18.99 $23.99 CAD

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INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER!

★ “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

A gift for any child with an unbridled imagination, this bestseller from award-winning creator Sophie Blackall captures the astonishing spectacle of life as a horse. And with a cover 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:

Praise for If I Was a Horse:
A Kids’ Indie Next List Pick
An American Library Association Notable Children's Book of 2024
An Amazon Best Book of 2023
A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book 2023
A CCBC Choices Best Book of 2023
A Children's Book Council Favorites Awards, Children's Favorite
* "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
* "Every illustration invites readers to pause to appreciate its details."

Shelf Awareness, 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
“A whimsical picture book that embarks on a journey of imagination…A wonderful reminder of the power of imagination and a launching point for story hour discussions.”

School Library Journal
“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."L
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
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN-13: 9780316510981

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Order 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 Bear; Hello, Lighthouse; and Farmhouse. She is also the proprietor of Milkwood, a creative retreat for children’s book makers. She divides her time between Brooklyn and a farm in upstate New York.

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