Greenwood, Mark. Midnight: A True Story of Loyalty in World War I.

Greenwood, Mark.  Midnight: A True Story of Loyalty in World War I.  Candlewick Press  2015  unp  $16.99  ISBN 978-0-7636-7466-3  elem  Nonfiction  E

Beautifully illustrated in colorful gouache paintings, this new nonfiction title will appeal to elementary students who enjoy animals, especially horses.  They will meet Midnight, a beautiful black horse, and her owner, Guy Hampton.  Born on a farm in Australia, Midnight was raised by Guy, and the bond they have formed has been one of friendship and loyalty.  Guy and Midnight are called to join the cavalry in World War I, but the two are separated when Guy needs to head to the Turkish coast.  After four months in the trenches, Guy and his men leave for Cairo, Egypt, where he is reunited with Midnight.  Back together, the two are next bound for battle at Beersheba.  During the battle, a bullet passes through Midnight, killing her and injuring Guy.  Students will feel Guy’s pain as he loses his horse and his best friend.

The author includes an author’s note about the real horse Midnight and Guy Haydon, bringing the story to life, along with information about the charge at Beersheba.

Elementary teachers could use the story to supplement World War I connections.  For schools who participate in Accelerated Reader, an existing test is available (AR Quiz # 174035).  
     

Summary: “At once sobering and inspiring, here is the true tale of a World War I cavalry soldier and his heroic horse, Midnight.”       

Horses, World War I                                         --Charleen Forba-Mayer

Green, Sara. The Morgan Horse.

Green, Sara.  The Morgan Horse.     Scholastic/ Childrens Press   24p  $20.65  978-0-531-20878-6   elem     Series: Horse Breed Roundup (Scholastic/Childrens)        VG-BNes        

This book provides an overview to the Morgan horse breed, one of the earliest horse breeds developed in the United States, which was named after one of the best-known owners of the breed.  Morgans are versatile animals.  They excel in a wide variety of arenas, as work animals on farms and ranches, carriage horses, riding horses, and as show animals.  Readers will be drawn to the colorful full-page photos of horses engaging in dynamic activities.

Colorful, liberal use of photographs will engage young readers, who may linger over the brief text to discover the history of Morgans or top examples of the breed.  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 the Morgan is the state horse of both Vermont and Massachusetts? Or that Morgans were bred for U.S. military use until 1951?)

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

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