If I Was a Horse

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.

• 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