We love history – I mean, we really love history. We love to read about it, bake historical recipes, dress up in period costumes, play around with the language, and much more. That’s why reading Mattie Richardson’s Horses in History Series (Appaloosy, Dusty’s Trail, Golden Sunrise, and Day and Night) by Author Mattie Richardson/Appaloosy Books was such a great fit for us.
Even before I really knew what the books were about, however, I was interested because of the author. Mattie Richardson wrote the first book in this series when she was only thirteen years old – and she published it at age sixteen! Since My Big Helper wants to be a writer and already has a notebook full of story ideas, reading books published by other teens seemed like a great fit.
The Horses in History series is definitely one that interested My Big Helper from the beginning. Written from the point of view of the horse, each story revolves around a major event in American history. The stories follow the horse throughout the event, and so the reader learns about major historical figures, events of the time, cultural information about people groups and time periods, and, of course, information about horses and riding.
- Appaloosy tells the tale of the how the Nex Perce Indians helped to develop the Appaloosy breed of horse, as well as touching on the Nez Perce Indian War and Chief Joseph. I really appreciated the way that Richardson highlighted the conflict inherent in this war and told the story from more than one native perspective. You hear Chief Joseph’s famous words, but you also see what was happening to regular members of the nation, as well as learning about the disagreements within the group itself. These tough times in history are hard to portray accurately, but Richardson does so with kindness and understanding.
- Dusty’s Trail was particularly special to me as I’ve loved the story of the Pony Express since studying it in middle school. While we’re typically told stories of bravery and wildness, Richardson tackles this in an unusual way: from the perspective of a scared horse and his ambivalent rider. I admit, it took some time for that rider to grow on me – his initial immaturity rankled, but that made me appreciate the growth all the more when it happened. Richardson did a great job of showcasing both the danger of the Pony Express and the reasons why boys chose to work for the company.
- Day and Night is the story of two horses – brothers – who end up on opposite sides of the Civil War. Richardson does a great job of showing the complexities of this particular war, as well as tackling the lesser-known western theater for the setting.
- Golden Sunrise is the story of the Alamo and includes historical figures like Davy Crockett and James Bowie. I love when authors weave real people into their stories!
Richardson’s books are easy to read but full of exciting action. They’re targeted for kids ages 8 to 12, but I think that any history lover will find them to be great reads.
What makes the books even better is the enrichment guide that Richardson has added to her stock. Written for Day and Night, this 98-page guide is full of all sorts of learning activities. Richardson divided the book into daily reading chunks and then provides activities for each section. These range from things like basic vocabulary and comprehension questions to the more complicated recipes, art activities, and map projects. She also includes creative writing projects so that you can be working on your own story while reading hers. There are even activities for more advanced readers, some of which involve doing more research and further reading. Essentially, Richardson’s Enrichment Guide turns Day and Night into a full unit study, allowing this book about the Civil War era to go deep into the issues surrounding the war.
Richardson’s Enrichment Guide involves a wide range of activities, and it would work well for families of all ages and sizes. It could also be a great co-op activity. I hope that she writes them for her other books, as well – it’s a great resource.
I really enjoyed reading Mattie Richardson’s books, and I love supporting independent businesses and young writers. There are lots of reasons to check out this Horses of History series, but don’t take my word for it! Click on the graphic below to read other reviews from the Homeschool Review Crew.
