Green, Sara. The Friesian Horse.

Green, Sara.  The Friesian Horse.   Scholastic/ Childrens Press   24p  $20.65  978-0-531-20876-2  elem      Series: Horse Breed Roundup (Scholastic/Childrens)        VG-BNes        

This book provides an overview to the Friesian horse breed.  The colorful, liberal use of photographs will engage young readers, who may then remain to linger over the brief text to discover the history of Friesians, the black war-/draft-horse breed that nearly went extinct.  The text, written with high/low and reluctant readers in mind, offers basic breed characteristics, and the sidebars include information that will appeal to youngsters.  (Did you know that Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands opens sessions of Parliament after traveling there in a golden carriage drawn by eight Friesians?)

The book is shorter than many encyclopedia articles, but it has the advantage of the lush photos.  This is an appealing volume, even for readers who are not "horse mad".                       --Hilary Welliver