How to Draw Unicorns is a very straightforward book with lots of illustrations or drawn diagrams. This is to guide those who want to be able to create unicorn drawings. This book would be well suited to young fans of horses and unicorns wanting to learn to draw, and those just starting out illustrating.

The book is a relatively short read, providing more diagrams than text but it is made up of lots of step by step pictures. These help to guide readers on how to draw specific unicorns. There are more than 30 different unicorns undertaking various tasks drawn as cartoon form animals. For example a unicorn skateboarding or cooking or dancing.

Each of these images is shown coloured in for the reader, and then it is broken down in step by step guidelines. This shows how to be able to draw the image, but then how you colour it in is completely up to you.

How to Draw Unicorns by Julia Smith

The book provides exactly what it describes: it will step by step guide on how to draw unicorns. It starts out with a great introduction on encouraging readers to try and try again, if at first you don’t succeed. The key is to just keep having a go. That’s the only way you’ll improve. And it’s quite positive about the way it encourages you to build on your drawing skills. This is especially if you don’t get it exactly as you want it.

The book also concludes in a similar vein. It encourages readers to keep trying to pursue their passion and to follow the step by step guide. In time they will be able to draw unicorns. How to Draw Unicorns would be suited to young illustrators or any unicorn fan wanting to try their hand at drawing them.

Author: Julia Smith
Non Fiction – drawing unicorns
In My Library? As an eBook, it is.

Racing Dream was another novel that I recently downloaded on Kindle to read and review. One thing that I liked about this story was that it was based in South Australia, Australia. I’m in Victoria but it was nice to be reading a racing novel that focused around the Australian racing industry. I enjoyed reading about places such as the Morphettville racecourse and sales, where I have personally been and worked within the industry.

Annabel Martin dreams of becoming a jockey and ultimately winning the Melbourne Cup. After all, this is the prize race that all jockeys aim for. As a young lady, she’s a great horse woman, but she comes from a privileged background. Therefore, she is seen as someone who just gets what she wants because daddy pays for everything.

Annabel is really keen to break through this image that’s been portrayed of herself. It is quite untrue.

As she pairs up with a retired jockey, she is rapt to find that he sees talent in her and is keen to invest time in her.  He teaches Annabel the ins and outs of the racing industry – especially riding racehorses.

Racing Dream by Suzie Hindmarsh-Knights

Annabel’s background comes from riding performance horses for the show ring, rather than racehorses. And although she’s a great horse woman, she does find that thoroughbreds and racing are very different, and she has a lot to learn.

Alongside her learning, she’s introduced to James Mackenzie. James is also an aspiring jockey, with his goal the same as Annabel: to win the Melbourne Cup.

Over the years Annabel hones her craft with the help of her ex jockey friend. In time she runs into James again, and an attraction is obvious between the two, but they are rival riders. Both are competing for the same thing with potentially the same horse: to get in the Melbourne Cup.

Racing Dream is a great look at the hard work, skills and a good work ethic that can get you to the top, but not without its challenges. The story has romance in it.  It also has mystery and suspense and features horses heavily. This made it a really great read.

The one thing to me that detracted a little bit from it was a couple of the romantic scenes between the two main characters. I felt that the story could have been a five star rating without this unnecessary physical romance explored and with less cosrse language, but otherwise it was a really enjoyable read.

Author: Suzie Hindmarsh-Knights
Fiction – mystery/suspense
In My Library? As an eBook, it is.

Recently on Facebook I read about a free kid’s summer reading program featuring horses. A horse summer reading program. Now this really appeals to me! Not that I need any excuse to read a horse book!

Whilst it is winter here in the southern hemisphere, it’s still appealing to snuggle up with a good book! And horse books tend to have a lot of appeal.

With a focus on bridging school years with summer reading, this reading program highlights various horse authors from around the world.

It states:

Summer reading is an important bridge between school years! Over the summer months, kids can lose valuable skills and knowledge. By participating in a summer reading program, studies show increased reading skills, motivation, confidence, and enjoyment. We have gathered some great international horse authors to promote literacy at all levels and have fun!

Horse Summer Reading

Curious to find out more and possibly take part? You can read more at Rae Rankin’s site.

Whether you’re looking to read fiction or non fiction, a book for young horse fans or older, I encourage you to check out the horse book reviews here on Equus Education. Many different authors have been covered!

And if you’re an author looking for more reviews – please get in touch! I love to read horse books and discover new equine authors. And if you have a young horse fan, perhaps they would be up for some summer (or winter) reading!

“He’s of the colour of the nutmeg. And of the heat of the ginger…. he is pure air and fire; and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him, but only in patient stillness while his rider mounts him; he is indeed a horse, and all other jades you may call beasts.” – William Shakespeare