Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-5-The question-and-answer format of this title will appeal to children who want answers to a wide range of questions, all of which are presented in large type and a clear, simple text. Colorful photographs are plentiful, although a few of them are not sufficiently labeled. A detailed illustration of the parts of a horse is informative. The table of contents lists all the questions that are answered, but there is no glossary to help with words such as taxidermist. Children who are writing reports about horses will need to use materials that provide more detailed and better-organized information about the basic biology of horses. A list of Web sites is nicely annotated, although some of them are not designed for this book's audience and a few are not easily available at the address provided. This book is an additional purchase, albeit one that will be popular.-Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma Library, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
What's the difference between a pony, a donkey, and a mule?"" ""Why do horses wear shoes?"" In an eye-catching design with large color photos, Crisp provides interesting answers to twenty-eight questions about horses. The questions are randomly organized, but the responses will whet young readers' appetites for more information. Reading list, websites. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
While they appear similar at first, two books appeal to different groups of horse-crazy kids. Everything Horse, part of the Kids FAQs series, answers questions that range from typical (why do horses wear shoes?) to distasteful (what happens to old horses?--do kids really want to know?) to playfully arcane (do horses come from dinosaurs?). The author's lack of personal horse experience comes through in the odd wording of some of her answers, but the basic information is sound. The format is encyclopedic, not progressive; page design is chaotic but fun. Older kids who wish for a horse, but aren't going to get one, will eat it up. My First Horse and Pony by Judith Draper (Kingfisher, 48 pp. $9.95, ISBN: 0-7354-5878-0), on the other hand, is a primer for kids beginning to ride, carefully laying out, systematically, how to care for, clean, tack and ride a pony. It's well planned and executed, with clear illustrative photographs and terrific step-by-step instructions. The models all wear matching blue jods and vests, with the lovely ponies in blue halters and saddle pads, so that the whole book has a uniform feel. It's the one for kids who are actually riding; those who will never sit on a horse may find the details dull. (Nonfiction. Everything Horses, 7-12; First Horse and Pony, 5-10) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
