I recently downloaded a copy of Henry the Horse: A New Home on Kindle. This horse book by April Pearson is a delightful tale for young horse fans. One aspect that I really like about this children’s horse book is the focus on teaching readers about horse colours. It even mentions the breed, the Australian Stock Horse, which is what Henry is.

Henry has come to a new home where he knows no other horses or animals. Bonnie the Butterfly befriends him and offers to help. And so starts a journey where Henry follows the beautiful butterfly to find some friends of his own kind.

Henry the Horse by April Pearson

Henry the Horse is a short, sweet story. The illustrations are lovely and the various horse colours that are explored in the story are described well.

The only aspect I felt was incorrect regarding horses and colour was the fact that Henry had blue eyes in the illustrations. Otherwise this story was good to read, easy for the young horse fan who is learning to read and made up with lovely illustrations.

Author: April Pearson
Fiction – children 2-5 years old
In My Library? It is as an ebook.

“My troubles are all over, and I am at home; and often before I am quite awake, I fancy I am still in the orchard at Birtwick, standing with my friends under the apple trees.” ― Anna Sewell, Black Beauty

I was recently given the opportunity to acquire a copy of the first book in the Brown River Stables short novella series. So of course I added it to my read and review list! The New Girl by Ella J. White explores the life of teenager Clarissa. Being the new girl for the third time in a year, Clarissa finds it easier to just hide in the background. After all, what is the point of making friendships and attachments if you’re just going to move again?

And yet, the sixteen-year-old finds that in this new town she is very quickly swept up into friendship. Her horse passion just happens to be shared with one of the first people she meets at school. An invite to visit Emily’s horse finds Clarissa letting down her guard when she really doesn’t want to.

The New Girl is a good introduction to Clarissa and her take on life. For such a short story, it spans a few years and at times it wasn’t easy to determine how much time had passed within a chapter. Emily’s interest in Alistair builds nicely and another male’s interest has the reader questioning just who she will end up with.

The story ends with a question, easily leading into the next book. But before that, The New Girl describes well the world of agisting horses (livery), riding and even competing. The one part of the story I struggled with was her relationship with her boyfriend – it seemed too controlling. Toward the end, Clarissa’s interest seemed also to be torn between two men, in spite of her love for one.

Although Clarissa appeared to be waking up to the unhealthy side of her relationship with her boyfriend, it seemed too easy for her interest to sway from the man she claimed she loved. I found these two relationship focus points to be disappointing for me. This part of the story appeared to focus on some unhealthy relationship qualities and that didn’t appeal to me. Otherwise the story was an easy and enjoyable read.

Author: Ella J. White
Fiction – young adult, novella
In My Library? It is as an ebook.