So one of my lovely students turned up in class the other week with a heap of horse books for me to add to my collection!  I think I’ll be enjoying a few good reads from these!  The first was a lovely surprise by Karen Wood.

Diamond Spirit is set in Australia and written by an Australian.  Based around two horse crazy teens that love games on horseback, this novel is realistic and full of authentic horse information.

The shock death of the main character’s horse Diamond leaves young Jess devastated.  She not only loses her horse, but feels that she has lost her best friend who is obviously keeping something from her.  Sulking at home, a couple of girls come across Jess whilst she is outside with her cousin’s horse.

The pair invite Jess to look at some foals at their uncle’s place and from here the friendship blossoms.  Jess is suddenly introduced to the world of camp drafting and a gorgeous little appaloosa filly.   Feeling that this filly and her beloved Diamond are in some way linked, Jess and her friends concoct a plan to be able to purchase the filly.

Diamond Spirit is a great read, entertaining and educational.  A wonderful choice for a present.  For a more in depth review, visit my articles at Suite101.com.

Author: Karen Wood
Fiction: 11 years and up
In my library? Absolutely.  A great story that is educational and entertaining – the best combination in my books.
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

Tags: horse story, equine book review, equine author, horse library, horse writing, Karen Wood, Diamond Spirit

Now this book has taken me awhile to get through.  That is solely due to a list a mile long of things I need to do (as opposed to want to!) and a lack of hours!  I received Belladonna by Mary Finn in the post at the same time as Ghetto Cowboy.

I absolutely love the unique subject matter that this story is worked around.  A fan of the anatomical equine paintings of George Stubbs, Finn has created a wonderful story that weaves English and French history of the 1700s in amongst the lives of a 15 year old English boy and the young French girl that he stumbles across.

Going by the name of Ling, the young French girl is in dangerous territory in the town of Horkstow, England at a time when the French and English are at war.  She is desperately searching for her beloved Belladonna, a white mare with a mane and tail the colour of barley.

Finn writes in such a way that the reader is able to imagine what the characters look like, can picture the countryside and the incredible events that befall the pair.  A more in depth review can be found as usual with my other reviews at Suite101.

Author: Mary Finn
Fiction: Historical, 11 years and up
In my library? A resounding yes.  I really enjoyed this novel, finding it a delight to read and an incredible telling of how the works of George Stubbs could have come about.
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

Tags: horse story, equine book review, equine author, horse library, horse writing, Mary Finn, Belladonna

So I must say, these are the first young children’s books that I’ve received in the mail to review – and I thoroughly enjoyed reading them and looking at the pictures!  😀

I was kindly sent along the first in the series, Quincy Finds a New Home, which was released in 2009 as well as Quincy Moves to the Desert, a 2011 release.

Aimed at 4 – 9 year olds, these stories are interesting, educational and with some gorgeous illustrations by Michelle Black.

Having a nephew that is almost two, I can definitely imagine reading these books to him when he’s a little older and later down the track, can see him delighting in being able to read them by himself!

Quincy Finds a New Home provides children with the important message that to be loved and be a friend is all that is ever needed.  Quincy Moves to the Desert educates kids about some of the states in the USA, as well as variations within horse breeds, how they look different and are made for different jobs or disciplines.

Both books are around 40 pages in length and tell a simple story from the point of view of Quincy, the ‘little read horse with a coat the colour of a new penny’.  A more in depth review can be found along with my other articles at Suite101.

Author: Camille Matthews
Fiction: 4 – 9 year olds
In my library? Definitely!  I’m delighted to be able to have some stories for younger children that will encourage a love for reading and horses.
Want them? Get them now on Amazon.

Tags: horse story, equine book review, equine author, horse library, horse writing, Camille Matthews, Michelle Black, Quincy Finds a New Home, Quincy Moves to the Desert