Working Horses

One of my favorite books listed on Accelerated Reader is “Working Horses,” which is from a series called “Horse Power.” In the series, young children learn how these proud animals provide a valuable resource for people.Children can appreciate horses’ intelligence and gentle personalities as they learn how different breeds are trained to work alongside people. The texts reinforce the long-standing bond between horses and human beings.For example, while cuddling on the living room couch between my wife and me, Neala especially enjoyed the book “Therapy Horses” by Catherine Nichols. It helped the three of us discover how horses help people live with such disabilities as cerebral palsy, blindness, down syndrome and autism. The book explains the different breeds best suited to become therapy animals and discusses how the animals are trained to carry riders with special needs.Listening to children’s responses is also vital. My wife and I received one of the best signs that a book has engaged a young reader: Neala asked for “Therapy Horses” to be read to her over and over again.