Grade 4-8?The role of horses in the history of humankind is unique and often pivotal. Although Meltzer includes the characteristics of various breeds, aspects of horse care, and biographies of some famous animals, he focuses on the impact of the creature's domestication on people's lives and the fearful price that it has sometimes paid for its service. Worshipped in some cultures and glorified in art, its considerable contribution to world civilization is revealed through chapters that include an overview of the horse's basic character, its role in ancient history, and its influence in more recent times. Informational vignettes interspersed throughout capture some of the more offbeat data, such as the origin of the hobbyhorse, as well as the fact that King Edward III paid a ransom of #20 for a warhorse and only #16 for the safe return of Chaucer. Using the same format and style that made his The Amazing Potato (1992) and Gold (1993, both HarperCollins) so successful and interesting, the author has produced a well-researched, concisely written, and thought-provoking book that's as fascinating as the subject itself. Black-and-white reproductions and photographs appear throughout. An excellent choice for recreational reading or reports.?Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 4^-8. After The Amazing Potato (1992) and Gold (1994), Meltzer now completes his vegetable-mineral-animal trilogy on the three kingdoms of nature. In an easy, casual style, he weaves together a wealth of history and myth, fact and fiction, about horses and their role in human history. The book design is like that of a magazine article, with spacious text and lots of boxed passages and illustrations throughout. The focus isn't on science (there's no anatomy and physiology), but on culture: how people over the centuries have used horses in work, war, sports, and art. There's a long bibliography, and chapter notes at the back discuss which sources were used for each topic. A natural for research papers, this will be read by all those for whom the horse is a mythic creature. Whether talking about nomads or knights, hunters or farmers, cowboys or cavalry, Meltzer shows that people have nearly always associated horses with what is exciting and good. Hazel Rochman
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