Horse Crazy 2: The Circus Horse - Softcover

Alison Lester is an Australian author and illustrator, whose books have been published worldwide.

Roland Harvey is an award-winning illustrator living in Australia.

Grade 2-4–Set in a small town in the Australian bush, these books introduce best friends Bonnie and Samantha and their shared adventures and passion for horses. In Switch, a farm horse belonging to Sam's father and a wild horse, or brumby, mysteriously switch places–and only Bon and Sam discover the truth. After Sam's policeman father unexpectedly mounts the newly domesticated animal to gallop off and rescue a toddler from an oncoming train, Sam divulges the horse's true identity, but he doesn't believe her. One year later, the girls encounter the former farm horse in the bush, happily acclimated with the brumbies. In Circus Horse, Bon, having practiced some trick riding for the local talent show, secretly takes the place of an injured rider in a visiting circus. She manages to turn her near fall into a clownlike part of the act, much to the enjoyment of the unsuspecting audience. While both plots in these short chapter books require some suspension of disbelief, overall they are an engaging window into rural life Down Under and the friendship of two enviably independent girls who are knowledgeable, skilled riders. Lighthearted ink and watercolor illustrations charmingly convey the Aussie terrain and the cast of human and equine characters. However, some of the more finely detailed drawings and small-font captions could be visually challenging for some young eyes. A short glossary of unfamiliar terms is a vital addition for American readers. Additional purchases where there is strong interest in horse stories for newly fluent readers.–Kathleen Finn, St. Francis Xavier School, Winooski, VT
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