Horses

by Seymour Simon

From award-winning science writer Seymour Simon comes a completely revised and updated edition of Horses. With brand new full-color photographs, readers will learn how horses came to be domesticated, how to distinguish different breeds, the important roles they’ve served throughout history, and more. From stallions and mares, to Clydesdales and Palominos, this is sure to be a hit with horse-lovers and animal-lovers everywhere!

This updated edition includes:

• Author’s note

• Stunning full-color photographs

• Glossary

• Index

• Additional reading sources

Supports the Common Core Learning Standards, Next Generation Science Standards and the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) standards.

 

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Picture Books, Horses, Science, Biology, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Seymour Simon, whom the NY Times called "the dean of [children's science:] writers," is the author of more than 250 highly acclaimed science books (many of which have been named Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children by the National Science Teachers Association).

Seymour Simon uses his website, SeymourSimon.com, to provide free downloads of a wealth of materials for educators, homeschoolers and parents to use with his books, including 4-page Teacher Guides for all 26 of his Collins/Smithsonian photo essay books. The site provides multiple resources for kids writing book reports or wanting to explore the online Science Dictionary, and also features the Seymour Science blog highlighting current science news. Educators and families are encouraged to sign up to receive the monthly newsletter from SeymourSimon.com to stay abreast of the latest materials that Seymour Simon is introducing to enrich the reading experience.

He taught science and creative writing in elementary and secondary schools and was chair of the science department at a junior high school in the New York City public school system before leaving to become a full-time writer. "I haven't really given up teaching," he says, "and I suppose I never will, not as long as I keep writing and talking to kids around the country and the world."

Seymour Simon is also a creator and the author of a series of 3D books and a series of Glow-in-the-Dark Books for Scholastic Book Clubs, a series of leveled SEEMORE READERS for Chronicle Books, and the EINSTEIN ANDERSON, SCIENCE DETECTIVE series of fiction books. His books encourage children to enjoy the world around them through learning and discovery, and by making science fun. He has introduced tens of millions of children to a staggering array of subjects; one prominent science education specialist described Simon's books as "extraordinary examples of expository prose."

Seymour Simon has been honored with many awards for his work, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Lifetime Achievement Award for his lasting contribution to children's science literature; the New York State Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature; the Hope S. Dean Memorial Award from the Boston Public Library for his contribution to children's science literature; The Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Award for Non-fiction; the Jeremiah Ludington Award for his outstanding contribution to children's nonfiction; the Empire State Award for excellence in literature for young people; and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Forum on Children's Science Books.

In a recent interview Simon was asked if he ever thinks of retiring. "I seem to be working faster and harder than ever. I absolutely don't feel any urge to sit back and look at what I've done. The only things that I'm thinking about are things I'd like to do in the future. I'm planning and doing and continuing to write. It's what I love to do. I remember a story about an anthropologist going to talk to a tribe and he asked them what was their word for "work." Their response was they have no word for work. Everybody does the things that they do in their life. I love that response. I don't differentiate between work and play. Everything I do is something that I enjoy doing - the writing, the research and everything else."

Seymour Simon writes and photographs nature from his hilltop home in Columbia County in upstate New York, where he lives with his wife Liz Nealon.

You can follow Seymour on Facebook and on Twitter, as well as on his website, which offers free, downloadable Teacher Guides to his books for educators, parents and homeschoolers, as well as the popular Seymour Science Daily Blo

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yes, Seymour Simon certainly does provide a sufficiently informative general introduction to horses and ponies (presenting to his readers enough factual details for a decent overview without being narrationally and descriptively overwhelming for the intended audience, for children from about the ages six to ten years of age). However, as a total horse enthusiast since my early childhood, I do have to admit that at least for me personally, that in my humble opinion, there are far too many issues I have encountered in Horses for me to consider more than two stars for Simon’s presented text.

For one, and with regard to equine evolution, while in Horses Seymour Simon indeed does touch on a few of the major highlights and seems to get these informationally correct with regard to both fact and general timelines, Simon really only scratches the proverbial surface so to speak and absolutely and most definitely should be mentioning that both horses and tapirs share a common ancestor and that zebras and donkeys are also considered as being part of genus equus (and I equally really cannot understand why Prewalski’s Horse, why the ONLY remaining horse that is truly wild and not considered a feral domestic equine does not make an appearance within the pages of Horses).

For two, and with regard to Seymour Simon’s general penmanship for Horses, I for one do rather feel as though Simon sometimes seems to textually approach his intended audience in a bit of a patronising and perhaps even unintentionally mocking and denigrating manner (not all too often, mind you, but enough for me to have noticed and to have felt a bit uncomfortable). For honestly, when Seymour Simon textually points out that horses can see, hear and smell, my main textual reaction has been one of “well, duh” and if I were a child reading Horses I definitely would be feeling as though the author clearly does not take me and my observational skills seriously, that Seymour Simon obviously must think me quite uneducated and ignorant not to consider and generally realise that horses have hearing, sight and a sense of smell.

Finally and for three, and most definitely the main reason why my rating for Horses is not and can never be three stars is that I do find it totally academically unacceptable that in an entirely factual and non fiction tome on horses, there are neither source acknowledgments provided (no endnotes or footnotes) nor does Seymour Simon feature any book titles or internet addresses for additional reading and research purposes. And yes, this lack of any bibliographic material whatsoever both majorly annoys and also absolutely frustrates me, for honestly and in my capacity as a scholar, if you pen a totally non fiction piece of writing, you really should be providing a bibliography, and this indeed is a major reason why both Horses and Seymour Simon as an author of non fiction rather massively intellectually and academically infuriate me.

[Julianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Standard info book about horses. Not many nonfiction qualities to the book but not terribly written

[Mattie Troyer · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you love horses then this is the book for you. If not, I don't think you will enjoy this book that much. It is full of useful information about horses but if you have no reason or desire to want to remember any of those facts I would not waste your time on this one. Growing up my sister loved horses and that is why we got her this book. But when I try to read it, I can't seem to stay interested.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you or your child loves horses, then this is a nice little read. It's full of interesting facts about the beautiful animals. There may be a few things you might have to look up for definitions, but that could be used as a way to further the learning. The pictures are nice, with several different types of horses. Colorful and educational.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pictures are simply gorgeous.

[Kelly Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

As doing a class on animals it would be very informational for those students whom are specially interested in horses. And each other group could have a book on a another animal.

[Leeanna Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was all about horses. It is a non-fiction book and was really educational. It talked about all of the different types of horses, their coloring, and the history behind them all.

I liked this book and would probably keep it in my classroom for students to read.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Horses, by Seymour Simon, presents horse history and facts in an easy to understand manner without chapters. Each page presents a different set of facts about horses, accompanied with a photograph. This book covers the basic facts of horses, but does not delve too deep into technical terms. It brushes on all of the uses for horses and some of the different types of horses.
The best part of this book is the photographs. All pictures featured in this book are exquisite photographs taken by a wide array of photographers. The pictures can make anyone fall in love with horses. The photographs enhance the wonderfully descriptive text by providing a visual for children to make a connection with.
Children in Kindergarten would greatly benefit from having this story read to them when learning about horses and animal relationships. The pictures will hold their interest, and the words are simple to understand. Older children will also appreciate the beauty of the pictures and enjoy getting a basic understanding of horses.

[Bethany Sutherland]

Horses is a book about the different types of horses. It starts off with how horses came to be, traveling from other continents to another by the people. Female horses are called mares while male horses are called stallions. Female baby horses are called fillies and male baby horses are called colts. There are different types of horses and they have a unique purpose in what they can do and help humans out with.

I liked this book because it is about horses and I like horses.

I would put this book in my classroom library and have it available when we do an animal project.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is filled with amazing facts about horses. One fact is that the mares usually give birth lying down in the night.
Seymour Simon is a great author! I love all of his books. This one is really nice. You should read this book if you haven't read it yet.

[Jasmine Roberson]

all about horses hwt they do and how they help people. great for community and science lessons

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful photographs are a highlight of this book, which explores basic facts about horses as well as the ways in which the lives of humans and horses have intertwined throughout history.

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of great pictures of horses! This also had A LOT of information. We could really only do 1 or 2 pages at a time. Once though we got through it the knowledge was amazing. Great book!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great information about horses. Photos added to the text. History of horses was well-rounded.

[Emma Houck]

The title says it all! The book is indeed about horses. This book talks about how much they have been apart of human lives and how important they are to our history. How their mouth is used to chewing and grinding, the horses’ significant vision, their pregnancy lasts 11 months, how they walk, and their size.

This book would be good to use in a animal history lesson and also just good to have in my classroom library.