Kingfisher Book of Horse and Pony Stories

From School Library Journal Grade 4-7–Twelve touching short stories celebrate the special bond between horses and the people who love them. There is a fine mixture of contemporary, fantasy, and historical fiction. The tales effectively portray the various roles that horses have played around the world and include the adventurous encounter between Alexander and Bucephalus; a horse in Japan that is sent off to war; and a rivalry in Vienna at the stable of the Lipizzaners. In another, a girl proves her loyalty for an elderly pony; and two stepsisters learn to accept one another through their interaction with a horse. From police mounts to carousel steeds, the horses change lives. Superb, expressive illustrations capture the unique physical characteristics of each equine and evoke the passion of the humans with whom they interact. These well-written and sensitively selected stories will appeal to readers who are looking for some unforgettable animals and their human companions.