One little girl dreaming of owning a horse and planning on all the ways she can work on her parents to talk them into getting her a horse. Cry? Beg? Throw a fit? It's never worked before.... Unfortunately it hasn't stopped her from daydreaming in class and getting into trouble - and that's how the book opens. I loved how involved Ellie gets in her daydreaming up to and including "daydreaming" up a horse outside her classroom window - or is it real? If so, no one believes her...

Horse Dreams is very well written, doesn't talk down to kids and it doesn't seem as though Dandi MacKall is lecturing or "teaching" the kids who read it a lesson. I was very impressed with her method of helping Ellie come to understand her parents point of view about why she can't have a horse. The wonderful part of the book though is that Ellie shows a maturity by the end of the book as she helps an abused horse find a new home and Ellie accepts that her job is to help this "backyard horse" relax and let others help her. I really liked this little girl and I'm looking forward to reading other books in this series.

You can begin reading this series aloud to your younger children around Grade 1 and the reading level is for kids 4th grade and up (it's actually very easy to read and moves quickly).

Much thanks to Dandi MacKall and Tyndale Publishing for donating this book for review and giveaway. I was not paid for my review services and was not required to provide a positive review. ( )

HORSE DREAMS: BACKYARD HORSES by Dandi Daley Mackall is an interesting Kids/Juvenile/Fiction for ages 9-12. It is written with depth and details. One of the "Backyard Horses" series. See "Cowboy Colt".It is book It has horses,adventures,dreams,with sign language alphabet,and horse talk. This is a sweet story about a fourth grader,Ellie James,who has a great imagination,and dreams of owning a black stallion show horse. It has inspirational quotes,will teach your child about dreaming,imagination and dreams can come true in strange places. A must for any young reader
and their parents. I found this to be a quick read that my grandchildren also enjoyed. This book was received for the purpose of review from the publisher. Details can be found at Tyndale and My Book Addiction Reviews. ( )