Totally Crazy for Horses

Nikki Tate-Stratton writes children’s picture books and novels for
preteens. Her most recent novels are Raven’s Revenge, Tarragon Island,
and Jo’s Journey. Her latest picture book is Grandparents’ Day.

Another in Scholastic’s successful non-fiction series for horse
lovers, Totally Crazy for Horses delivers top-quality photographs with
concise, interesting information (breed standards, history, and
anecdotes) about each of 18 horse breeds. Because many of the more
common breeds have already been covered in earlier titles, this volume
includes some unusual breeds like the Azteca (descended from horses
brought to the New World by Spanish Conquistadors) and the Suffolk Punch
(a draft horse originally bred by farmers in eastern England).

Each two-page spread features one horse breed and includes a large
colour photo, at least one smaller image, and a Fast Fact. The centre
spread is billed as a pull-out poster and has been designed so this
image (of two horses from the Camargue in France) can be removed without
affecting the text (pages on the reverse contain only photographs).

Unlike earlier books in the series, there are no websites or additional
resources listed. Nor are there any general information sections, a
table of contents, or an index. This makes it difficult to find specific
information without thumbing through the whole book and limits the
title’s usefulness as a research tool. As a feast for curious,
horse-crazy eyes, though, this is another winner in a fine stable of
horsey titles. Recommended.