Where Wild Horses Run

Gr 1–3—This picture book was inspired by actual bands of wild horses in Canada's Nemaiah Valley. Much of the action is realistic, but the animals have been anthropomorphized. "[Brown Foal] is bewildered by the cold. Mother's tongue kneads warmth down to her bones." This humanizing makes some scenes feel harsh. For instance, Brown Foal and Gray Colt spend a lot of time playing until Gold Stallion banishes the colt because he is getting old enough to challenge the stallion for mares. While this is natural for a band of wild horses, young readers who see Brown Foal and Gray Colt as friends may find that difficult to understand. The beautifully detailed paintings successfully achieve Graham's goal of showing children a wild place that should be protected. Unfortunately, the text does not reach the same standard.—Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Ft. Thomas, KY