- a 9-year-old girl experiences many aspects of caring for horses, loving it all
- themes include: new friendships, trusting God in trials, importance of family and more!
- homeschool-friendly
- convo: one sad scene in which a beloved horse dies, salvation theology*
Type: chapter book
Ages: 8-12 (but even teens might enjoy)
Author: Vicki Watson
Illustrator: Janet Griffin-Scott
Though I’ve yet to read more in the series (but plan to!), I can wholeheartedly recommend it. This first book was absolutely fantastic. It was openly Christian, supportive of homeschooling, and a delightful read–both for me and, later, my daughter soon after her 8th birthday. It felt very “real life” as the kids dealt with imperfect behavior or attitudes–all of which was corrected–and things didn’t always go picture-perfect.
*My note here is quite small, but I’m aware of many parents wanting to know these types of details. When someone is leading another someone (staying vague to avoid spoilers!) to put their trust in Jesus, the phrase “…decide to follow Jesus” is briefly mentioned. However, it was clear that the Lord had already called her (see John 6:44) and the rest of the guidance was clearly aligned with Scripture.
There is quite a bit of equestrian-related vocabulary, but footnotes give aid toward understanding. The book also includes a detailed section on how to draw horses, horse safety notes, and discussion questions. Let me know if you read this one!!
P.S. There’s quite the haul of freebies on the book series’ website, too. Find them at sonrisestable.com.