Kids, Books, and Language

Sometimes I blog about books, sometimes about kids, and sometimes about Language but I seldom find a topic that involves all three. Well, today is an exception. The children's book, Andy and the Albino Horse by Mary Jean Kelso is a book for kids that includes some interesting facts about animal language.

Andy is a boy who must use a wheelchair and Spirit is a therapy horse that helps him develop some muscle use and a sense of independence. While the book is fiction, there are organizations providing therapy horses to help people with disabilities in real life.

At the end of the book there are some fascinating facts about the gestures horses use to communicate. I especially enjoyed reading about their various ear positions, which seem to function like our facial expressions. The illustrations by K.C. Snider are clear and easy to understand.

This book is the first in a series that should appeal to lots of young readers, especially those who love horses or animals in general. And, while enjoying the stories, kids will learn a little about how it feels to have special needs.