Grade 3-7 - A rich combination of scholarly but age-appropriate historical information and well-told story, this hybrid features eight tales about magical talking horses. The fascinating note that prefaces each story tells of the origins and distinguishing features of horses, such as the loyal Marwari of Northern India, the pintos of the Pawnee, or the sturdy "Iron Horses" of Canada. Tales that follow include Russia"s "The Little Humpbacked Horse" and some lesser-known ones, such as the Iranian "Colt Qeytas" and the Basque "The White Mare." While seven of the tales feature boys who find a wife, the girls are strong, independent, and active in realizing their desires as well. A bare-bones list of sources is included. Acrylic paintings in warm blues and browns feature stylized portrait ovals, framed as if in ancient parchment, of each horse followed by romantic and dramatic illustrations of scenes from the story. The book satisfies readers on both informative and imaginative levels, and...