The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
	The Bulletin Dozen is a monthly theme-based list of titles available only on-line. Since we're awfully fond of bakers here at the Bulletin, we thought we'd adopt their philosophy of generosity and throw in an extra one or two when we have th em to offer--so don't expect an even dozen. Please feel free to copy, download, or link to these lists. We ask only that you cite the source. See the archive for lists from previous months.
	The Sound of Hoofbeats selected by Deborah Stevenson

Those of us to whom libraries were divided into horse books and other books don't find quite the riches of days gone by; successors to classic equestrian authors such as Dorothy Lyons, Patsey Gray, and Marguerite Henry are few and far between. There is more to literary equestrian life than The Saddle Club nonetheless, and I've collected here quite a few barnworthy entries from the last decade ranging from photoessays (a format particularly gifted with good horse books lately) to picturebooks to historical fiction. Riders up!

--Deborah Stevenson, Associate Editor

• Baker, Karen Lee. Seneca; written and illus. by Karen Lee Baker. Greenwillow, 1997. 5-8 yrs.
  A lucky young girl gives a detailed and realistic account of a day with her beloved steed, Seneca; Baker's pastoral watercolors are picturesque without being overpretty. (BCCB 3/97)

• Beirne, Barbara. Riders Up!: Preparing for a Pony Race; written and illus. with photographs by Barbara Beirne. Carolrhoda, 1992. Gr. 2-5.
  This delectable photoessay follows eight-year-old Jasmine's enviable lot as she and her pony Charlie train for a local pony race. (BCCB 10/92)

• Cole, Babette. Winni Allfours; written and illus. by Babette Cole. BridgeWater, 1994. 5-8 yrs.
  High-spirited cartoonish art suits the story of Winni, a horse-crazy girl whose obsession eventually transforms her into a horse, and a promisingly speedy racehorse at that. (BCCB 5/94)

• Cole, Joanna. Riding Silver Star; illus. with photographs by Margaret Miller. Morrow, 1996. Gr. 2-4.
  This fictionalized photoessay could be entitled A Somewhat Older Rider; Miller's photographs follow young Abby and her photogenic grey steed through everyday equestrian fun and duties. (BCCB 3/96)

• Doherty, Berlie. Snowy; illus. by Keith Bowen. Dial, 1993. 5-8 yrs.
  Young Rachel lives an exquisitely desirable life on a colorful canal barge drawn by the great white horse, Snowy, who helps her trump her classmates come Pet Day; impressionistic pastel illustrations don't over-romanticize the sturdy Snowy. (BCCB 4/93)

• Frydenborg, Kay. They Dreamed of Horses: Careers for Horse Lovers; illus. with photographs by Tanya Wood. Walker, 1994. Gr. 5-9.
  This female-focused career guide offers both daydream fodder and solid practical advice to young women who are wondering what possibilities there are beyond jockey and veterinarian. (BCCB 6/94)

• Haas, Jessie. Beware the Mare; illus. by Martha Haas. Greenwillow, 1993. Gr. 3-5.
  An easy-reading but realistic text describes young Lily's gradual acquantainceship with her new horse. Haas is the reigning (reining?) queen of horsey juvenile fiction, and her expertise infuses her historical fiction and her equestrian fiction for older readers as well as this and the other books in the Beware saga. (BCCB 7/93)

• Hall, Lynn. Flying Changes. Harcourt, 1991. Gr. 7-12.
  Though not as equicentric as some of Hall's other work, this story of a seventeen-year-old girl struggling to meet training deadlines and adjust to a family shaken by her father's rodeo injury contains some of the author's finest characterization. (BCCB 7/91)

• King, Deborah. Custer; written and illus. by Deborah King. Philomel, 1992. 5-8 yrs.
  An appealingly horse-centered saga, this depicts the travails of a palomino named Custer, who has difficulty adjusting from life amid cows to life with his fellow horses, until he meets another shy newcomer and makes a friend. (BCCB 5/92)

• McCaffrey, Anne. Black Horses for the King. Harcourt, 1996. Gr. 7-10.
  The noted fantasy author takes a new direction in this historical novel about King Arthur's horses, their military impact, and the role of technology (specifically, the development of farriery) in equstrian warfare. (BCCB 5/96)

• Mullins, Patricia. One Horse Waiting for Me; written and illus. by Patricia Mullins. Simon, 1998. 2-5 yrs.
  This equine counting book combines simple poetic text with luminous illustrations, which use rag-paper collage to create a touchable texture in the naturally posed horsey subjects. (BCCB 3/98)

• Porte, Barbara Ann. Harry's Pony; illus. by Yossie Abolafia. Greenwillow, 1997. Gr. 1-3.
  Harry wins a pony in a contest but, in a pleasing bit of realism, assesses his ability to care for the little guy and decides the pony is better off at a handicapped riding facility. (BCCB 10/97)

• Ruepp, Krista. Midnight Rider; tr. by J. Alison James; illus. by Ulrike Heyne. North-South, 1995. Gr. 2-4.
  A young girl is drawn to her cranky neighbor's beautiful stallion and begins taking the horse on wild night rides through the pounding surf, leading to creation of a local legend; Heyne's fluid watercolors ooze character and atmosphere. (BCCB 10/95)

• Ryden, Hope. Wild Horses I Have Known; written and illus. with photographs by Hope Ryden. Clarion, 1999. Gr. 4-8.
  Ryden does mustangs better than anybody, and her landmark photographs are here supported by a text chattily and informatively discussing the intricacies of equine social behavior. (BCCB 4/99)

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