Decorated Horses

April 1, 2015

Gr 3-6-This informational picture book provides a fascinating history of how humans have trained, interacted with, and decorated horses. Examples include chariot horses, samurai mounts, and racehorses. The work begins with a general introduction and then goes on to three sections: "Warfare and Hunting," "Performance and Competition," and "Ceremony and Celebration." For each type of horse, readers will find two or three paragraphs of descriptive, engaging text about its history. The watercolor illustrations focus on the horses, while the depictions of people and background activities are less detailed. Labeled pictures of the animal's anatomy and tack are a good resource for those less familiar with the subject. VERDICT An interesting, though brief overview of horses of possible use for social studies or history lessons. A supplemental purchase.-Tamara Saarinen, Pierce County Library, WA

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2014
Bright colors and ornate furbelows flash in this survey of horsey fashion through the ages.The vague topic and Patent's accompanying commentary-being noticeably thin on specifics-come off as pretexts for an album of portraits for coltish horse lovers. Unfortunately, Brett doesn't pick up the slack, as both horses and human figures posing in her flat paintings are drawn with unfinished, generic features, and the various blankets, braids, straps, plumes, fringes, saddles and pieces of armor on view are neither consistently identified nor displayed to best advantage. Grouped by function, the gallery of 14 examples opens with war horses (including armored steeds from an unspecified period of the Middle Ages and an Egyptian chariot confusingly paired to an Assyrian scenario set several centuries too early). It then goes on to portray horses trained to dance, race or compete in never-explained ways as draft teams. Following a final batch duded up for parades or, in ancient Scythia, ritual burial, a pair of labeled portraits, one of equine body parts and the other of standard tack, is shoehorned in. Even readers mad for all things horse won't give this more than a quick graze before galloping off to richer pastures. (index, bibliography, websites) (Nonfiction. 9-11)

COPYRIGHT(2014) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 1, 2015
Grades 3-5 This colorfully illustrated volume notes that humans domesticated horses more than 9,000 years ago and discusses how various cultures have equipped and decorated horses for different purposes. The book's three thematic sections are Warfare and Hunting, Performance and Competition, and Ceremony and Celebration. Each double-page spread includes several paragraphs of information on the use and adornment of horses in particular cultures. For example, the first section includes ancient Assyrian chariot horses wearing elaborate headdresses into battle (1800 BCE), thirteenth-century Mongol warriors' mounts covered by armor, and nineteenth-century American Indians' horses painted with symbols for power and protection. The remaining sections also feature a broad range of historical cultures, including modern examples such as the garland of roses draped over a Kentucky Derby winner. Illustrating the informative text are full-page watercolor paintings enhanced with gouache, pastel, and colored pencil. A satisfying choice for kids who love horses, this well-researched book will carry them beyond their immediate interest and into the broader sphere of world history.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2015
From Egyptian chariot racers to samurai mounts to draft horses to circus performers, each spread features a brief you-are-there text facing a watercolor, gouache, pastel, and colored-pencil illustration of a horse bedecked in appropriate finery. The inclusion of examples across cultures and centuries is comprehensive. A final spread identifies horse body parts and tack. Reading list, websites. Bib., ind.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)