Bramble and Maggie: Horse Meets Girl (Candlewick Sparks)

Though written very simply for beginning readers, this is a delightful story about a horse and her girl. Haas uses authentic language for riders that even non-riders will understand with Friend's descriptive illustrations. For example, when Bramble the horse is moving too slowly during the lesson,

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the instructor says: "Bump her with your legs, make her go a little faster." The picture shows Bramble speeding up with a grin, and the rider with a surprised, slightly scared expression on her face. At the end of the first chapter, the riding instructor realizes that Bramble is tired of going around in circles for lessons and puts her up for sale. In chapter two, a girl and a boy come to look at Bramble, but she doesn't like them and doesn't perform well for them. It is only when Maggie sees the "Horse for Free" sign that things start looking up for Bramble. Maggie sees Bramble as a friend and companion, not just a horse. When Bramble has her "little ways" of not doing what she's told, Maggie gently corrects her and says it's partly her fault in not signaling Bramble in the proper way. When Maggie asks to ride Bramble outside the ring, the horse is hooked. In the final chapter, Maggie readies her home for Bramble. When Bramble comes, Maggie shows her everything that might be scary (the swing set in the back yard; the hose), so Bramble is not afraid. I won't give away the ending, but it's perfect.

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