(2) K-3 Frances describes her first riding lesson at her friend Mae's horse farm where Mae takes the lead in outfitting Frances in boots and a helmet and showing her how to groom and tack. However, Frances's anticipation (she had imagined riding her dashing toy horse Excalibur) does not match reality: the barn is smelly; Mae's mother is shoveling horse poop; Frances's mount is a rotund pony named Snowball; and, most confidence-shaking of all, Snowball steps on her foot at the mounting block. Frances's toes are luckily saved by her borrowed boots, and Mae kindly redirects the lesson to a demonstration and then a low-key trail ride through the orchard with Frances riding double behind her. Confidence restored, Frances tries going solo back in the ring and even helps shovel poop. This substantial picture book augments traditional first-person narration with cartoon panels and speech balloons, the emotional thrust ably advanced by Mann's (The Camping Trip, rev. 5/20) evocative illustrations, reminiscent of crayon drawings. Frances's discomfort is humorously expressed through her saucer-like eyes (Mae's mother: "Let me make sure that the girth is tight enough—you don't want to fall off in your first lesson." Frances, in thought bubble to readers: "Fall off?"), and her experience will ring true not just with equestrians but also with any child who's ever ventured out of their comfort zone and ridden bravely on.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2025

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Gael Abary. "31If you want to ride a horse," the narrator assures the reader, "all you have to do is close your eyes." There follows a tour (in the imagination) of horses and horse ownership -- what color will your horse be, with what markings? How will you care for your horse, grooming it and cleaning its stall? How will you tack up your horse, and what gaits will you experience after you mount it? Although the text covers many of the topics explored in introductory horse books, the dreamlike nature of this gentle, occasionally rhyming picture book allows expansion into related areas: "Is your heart a wild horse, too? A secret: the scent of a barn is a balm. It will calm that galloping muscle inside you, I promise." The speckled mixed-media illustrations in muted tones of rose, peach, and champagne extend the imaginative atmosphere, seeming to float in space and transporting the reader, by book's end, to a deserted beach where horse and rider can run in untrammeled freedom. Back matter goes into greater depth on the subjects of horse colorings and markings, styles of riding, behavior, and equipment, and concludes with personal notes from the horse-loving author and illustrator. "Heels down, eyes up, smile. Yes, beam. You are sitting atop a dream."

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2024

(1) K-3 Illustrated by C. G. Esperanza. A Panamanian American girl and her daddy get up before dawn to ride horses through their town in this atmospheric picture book that celebrates a close bond between a father and daughter as well as contemporary Black cowboys. After Abuelita hands the girl a bag of apple slices for the horses, the duo takes off on Daddy's motorcycle. They leave amidst "a new kind of quiet" while the stores are "dark and empty," and upon arrival at the ranch, the girl's joy as she greets her pony radiates off the page. She is excited to ride through the streets; usually, her rides are confined to the ranch. While riding, she feels "high as the clouds" and "strong as a horse's back." Esperanza's vibrant, detailed oil-paint illustrations feature boldly colored backgrounds that infuse even the pre-sunrise scenes with energy. The sky goes from "midnight black" to "deep ocean blue" and "swirly sherbet colors" as the pair enjoys "just us" time together. The girl's face is particularly expressive and full of light. Seales showcases the respect the two have for horses and their love for each other. The family's Central American roots are highlighted in Abuelita's Panamanian-flag coffee cup, in her traditional dress, and in the girl's use of Spanish and English. Back home, the child triumphantly declares, "My Daddy is a cowboy...and so am I."

Reviewer: Marva Anne Hinton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2025

(2) 4-6 Color by Kelly Fitzpatrick. In this vivacious graphic novel by the author/illustrator of One Year at Ellsmere (rev. 7/20), horse-mad Norrie mistrusts the new rider at the stable, Victoria, because she previously rode at rival stable Waverly. For her part, Victoria reacts coldly to Norrie's "Edgewood Stables welcome," insisting she's there to ride, not make friends. The encouragement of Norrie's two other stable friends, Hazel and Sam, and a mutual love of the Beyond the Galaxy TV show lead to a détente, and the new foursome plans both to compete at a Waverly schooling show and to dress up as the show's characters for a fan event. Scenes alternating between home, school, and the barn keep the illustrated panels fresh and compelling, while the characters' physical vitality and charismatically drawn facial expressions elicit reader engagement as the friends face personal hurdles of the family, academic, and equestrian variety. The portrayal of stable life, its jealousies and dramas (including the brief mystery of why Victoria quit riding at Waverly), and the ride-or-die friendships forged there will be recognized by some readers and aspirational for others; inclusive characterization (Sam is the only boy but not the only person of color at the stable) makes all equestrians welcome. With snappy dialogue and spot-on pacing, the pages fly by, making this breezy read appealing to horse lovers, sci-fi-fandom aficionados, and those who live for excellent graphic novels alike.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022

(2) 4-6 Ellen & Ned series. Now in fifth grade, riding student Ellen (Riding Lessons) has matured somewhat; Ned, the horse she loves, has stopped talking to her, making her wonder if he ever did. Outside the stables, Ellen learns a secret about a neighbor, and the money troubles in her own family add more pressure to her life. The well-observed narrative moves at an amiable pace, kept lively by Ellen's distinct voice and perspective.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2019

(4) 4-6 Spirit Riding Free series. The Baby-Sitters Club meets the Spirit Riding Free Netflix show in this diary-format series. More simply written and with more spacious pages than Selfors's Spirit novelizations, this anodyne tale of girls and their trusty steeds offers a smidgen of adventure and minimal character development as Lucky and her girlfriends start a day camp and struggle to make it successful.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 Jake Maddox Sports Stories series. Illustrated by Aburtov. Black-and-white full-page illustrations accompany these hi-lo stories involving talented athletes in tennis (Doubles), football (Punter's), bull-riding (Rodeo), and golf (Secondhand). The message-laden texts highlight the importance of focus and fair play to achieve team victory and accomplish personal goals. The engaging, action-packed stories should appeal to sports enthusiasts. Each book is supplemented by background on the sport, discussion questions, and writing prompts. Glos. Review covers these Jake Maddox Sports Stories titles: Double Trouble, Punter's Pride, Rodeo Challenge, and Secondhand Slice.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Jake Maddox Girl Sports Stories series. Illustrated by Katie Wood. These sports-themed stories starring girls highlight important skills necessary for success at a skate park (Longboard), a ranch (Cowgirl), on the ice (Ice Rink), and with the cheer squad (Squad). Fast pacing and black-and-white digital illustrations keep the predictable plots focused and easy to follow. Discussion questions, writing prompts, and facts about the sports are appended. Glos. Review covers these Jake Maddox Girl Sports Stories titles: Cowgirl Grit, Ice Rink Rookie, Longboard Letdown, and Squad Struggles.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 1-3 Pony Camp Diaries series. Illustrated by Mandy Stanley. In these diary-style chapter books set at Sunnyside Stables, experienced rider Penny regains her confidence after an injury and Megan deals with a disobedient horse. The girls also learn to get along with fellow riders, know-it-all Jennifer and moody Jade. With straightforward illustrated plots, this series is slight yet satisfying, especially for horse lovers. Both books include horse facts and a quiz. Glos. Review covers these Pony Camp Diaries titles: Megan and Mischief and Penny and Prince.

Reviewer: Mariko Turk

(4) 1-3 Pony Camp Diaries series. Illustrated by Mandy Stanley. In these diary-style chapter books set at Sunnyside Stables, experienced rider Penny regains her confidence after an injury and Megan deals with a disobedient horse. The girls also learn to get along with fellow riders, know-it-all Jennifer and moody Jade. With straightforward illustrated plots, this series is slight yet satisfying, especially for horse lovers. Both books include horse facts and a quiz. Glos. Review covers these Pony Camp Diaries titles: Megan and Mischief and Penny and Prince.

Reviewer: Mariko Turk

(2) 4-6 Ellen & Ned series. In this (projected) new trilogy, headstrong fourth grader Ellen's parents inform her they're adopting a little girl and that she herself is adopted; and at her riding lessons at Oak Valley Ranch, Ellen discovers that horse Ned can talk to her in her head. The treatment of adoption is true to the book's 1960s setting. Smiley's horsewomanship is spot on, giving readers vicarious equestrian thrills.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2018

(4) 4-6 In the second novelizations of the Nickelodeon TV show Ride, Kit prepares for a riding competition at her English equestrian school. In shifting points of view, Kit and her classmates continue to crush on and prank one another, although Kit's father's injury and memories of her deceased mother lend more serious notes. The conventional story ends tumultuously, creating anticipation for the next book.

Reviewer: Mariko Turk

(4) 4-6 Quartz Creek Ranch series. Kids come to Quartz Creek therapeutic horse ranch for various reasons: Ella's prone to outbursts (Speed); Rivka lashes out at her family's traditions after an attack on their synagogue (Home); Paley's addicted to online gaming (Summer); Hanna is painfully shy and, ironically, afraid of horses (Shy). Although the tweens' emotional problems get only superficial treatment, this hi-lo series provides plenty of realistic situations with horses. Review covers these Quartz Creek Ranch titles: At Top Speed, The Long Trail Home, One Brave Summer, and Shy Girl & Shy Guy.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) 4-6 Quartz Creek Ranch series. Kids come to Quartz Creek therapeutic horse ranch for various reasons: Ella's prone to outbursts (Speed); Rivka lashes out at her family's traditions after an attack on their synagogue (Home); Paley's addicted to online gaming (Summer); Hanna is painfully shy and, ironically, afraid of horses (Shy). Although the tweens' emotional problems get only superficial treatment, this hi-lo series provides plenty of realistic situations with horses. Review covers these Quartz Creek Ranch titles: At Top Speed, The Long Trail Home, One Brave Summer, and Shy Girl & Shy Guy.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) 4-6 Quartz Creek Ranch series. Kids come to Quartz Creek therapeutic horse ranch for various reasons: Ella's prone to outbursts (Speed); Rivka lashes out at her family's traditions after an attack on their synagogue (Home); Paley's addicted to online gaming (Summer); Hanna is painfully shy and, ironically, afraid of horses (Shy). Although the tweens' emotional problems get only superficial treatment, this hi-lo series provides plenty of realistic situations with horses. Review covers these Quartz Creek Ranch titles: At Top Speed, The Long Trail Home, One Brave Summer, and Shy Girl & Shy Guy.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) 4-6 Quartz Creek Ranch series. Kids come to Quartz Creek therapeutic horse ranch for various reasons: Ella's prone to outbursts (Speed); Rivka lashes out at her family's traditions after an attack on their synagogue (Home); Paley's addicted to online gaming (Summer); Hanna is painfully shy and, ironically, afraid of horses (Shy). Although the tweens' emotional problems get only superficial treatment, this hi-lo series provides plenty of realistic situations with horses. Review covers these Quartz Creek Ranch titles: At Top Speed, The Long Trail Home, One Brave Summer, and Shy Girl & Shy Guy.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Églantine Ceulemans. In these offbeat British imports, Pug lives a very spoiled life with equally pampered Lady Miranda. In Captain, they attend a party on a lake, and (water-averse) Pug gets lost and must find his way back to Lady Miranda. The prissy pair's misadventure is on horseback in Cowboy. Color-accented illustrations with a vintage feel make the most of comedic moments. Review covers these titles: Captain Pug and Cowboy Pug.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 1-3 Translated by Julia Marshall. Illustrated by Eva Eriksson. On her zoo class trip, Dani runs into Ella; overjoyed, the long-distance best friends go exploring together before being separated again. Although Dani acts upset that her father's girlfriend joins them for dinner that evening, she's really just worried that Ella is now sad. This continuing early-chapter-book series (My Happy Life, et al.) once again tenderly tackles real-kid problems, supported by the emotion-filled line drawings.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) 4-6 Though she's never been on a horse before, nineteenth-century city slicker Lucky, new to Miradero, Texas, has an instantaneous connection with a wild stallion, which enables her to ride him bareback at a gallop to rescue a couple of girls from peril. This slight novelization is a spinoff of DreamWorks' animated historical movie and subsequent Netflix series.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 Spirit Riding Free series. Libraries with horse-obsessed middle-grade patrons will welcome Selfors's second novelization of DreamWorks Animation studio's Spirit Riding Free TV franchise. Other readers may be skeptical of the Lassie-like devotion and communication between supposedly wild mustang Spirit and young Texas girl Lucky. Verisimilitude is hardly the point, though. A female friendship dilemma and an animal welfare project round out the action.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin