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Nature Storybooks
Hello, Horse
A gentle introduction to horses will draw both committed horse lovers and those who need a little reassurance before jumping into the saddle.
I have a friend named Catherine, and she has a horse named Shannon. “Come and meet her,” Catherine says.
A little boy isn’t sure if he likes horses, but his friend Catherine assures him that her horse will like him. Shannon is very big, but she’s beautiful, throwing her head up and looking at him with her dark eyes as if she knows everything there is to know. Catherine patiently teaches the boy how to talk to a horse quietly, how to feed her carrots, how to lead her across a field, even how to blow at her softly to show that he likes her. But is he really ready to climb up on Shannon’s back and take a ride? Facts about horses are sprinkled throughout to satisfy inquisitive readers.
I have a friend named Catherine, and she has a horse named Shannon. “Come and meet her,” Catherine says.
A little boy isn’t sure if he likes horses, but his friend Catherine assures him that her horse will like him. Shannon is very big, but she’s beautiful, throwing her head up and looking at him with her dark eyes as if she knows everything there is to know. Catherine patiently teaches the boy how to talk to a horse quietly, how to feed her carrots, how to lead her across a field, even how to blow at her softly to show that he likes her. But is he really ready to climb up on Shannon’s back and take a ride? Facts about horses are sprinkled throughout to satisfy inquisitive readers.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published September 18, 2018
1 person is currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Vivian French
584 books142 followersVivian June Isoult French MBE was born in 1945 and educated at Exeter University.
Vivian French was best known in school for being extremely skinny and for talking a lot. At school she developed an attachment to words and later became an actor, then a storyteller, and finally a writer of children's books. She is the author of more than two hundred books. Ms. French lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, and has four grown daughters.
Vivian French was best known in school for being extremely skinny and for talking a lot. At school she developed an attachment to words and later became an actor, then a storyteller, and finally a writer of children's books. She is the author of more than two hundred books. Ms. French lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, and has four grown daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 23, 2019
A young boy who is anxious around horses looks to his friend, who is a keen horse lover for help. Soon, she starts to teach the young boy everything about caring for horses but will he be brave enough for his first ride? Beautifully illustrated with quick, easy to understand horse facts as well.
May 11, 2022
Was very much appreciated - a lovely, introductory picture book with beautiful watercolours. Practical and cute, and seeing a real photo of the real Shannon at the end was super exciting for the knee-high audience.
January 14, 2019
Sweet illustrations. I also liked the facts scattered throughout the story about horses and caring for horses. Good story to share with kids about overcoming fears. Great example of good teaching, too!
January 12, 2020
Hello Horse by Vivian French, Illustrated by Catherine Rayner. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2018. $16.00. 9781536201673
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE.
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Catherine has a beautiful, gentle horse named Shannon. Catherine offers to introduce her friend, a little boy, to her horse. At first her friend is apprehensive about meeting the large horse. With Catherine's help, the boy becomes accustomed to Shannon and learns about grooming, talking quietly, and helping the horse become accustomed to him. Soon the little boy and Shannon get to go for his first ride.
Vivian French has captured the beauty and gentleness of horses is this simple picture book. Shannon the horse, belongs to illustrator, Catherine Rayner, which gives the story a special connection. Interspersed throughout the story are fun facts about horses. Although this story may night have a high appeal to every student, for those who have an affinity for animals, this is a great read.
Gina, Media Specialist
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE.
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Catherine has a beautiful, gentle horse named Shannon. Catherine offers to introduce her friend, a little boy, to her horse. At first her friend is apprehensive about meeting the large horse. With Catherine's help, the boy becomes accustomed to Shannon and learns about grooming, talking quietly, and helping the horse become accustomed to him. Soon the little boy and Shannon get to go for his first ride.
Vivian French has captured the beauty and gentleness of horses is this simple picture book. Shannon the horse, belongs to illustrator, Catherine Rayner, which gives the story a special connection. Interspersed throughout the story are fun facts about horses. Although this story may night have a high appeal to every student, for those who have an affinity for animals, this is a great read.
Gina, Media Specialist
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
December 10, 2019
This book is a combination of a story and facts about horses in a picture book format. A young boy is about to meet the horse of his friend Catherine; Shannon. Slowly but surely he is overcoming his fear to ride the horse. This is partly because of the persistence of Catherine who does not seem to let the fear take a central role in the story and she allows the boy to gently be introduced to the horse. She is always there to help the boy or explain what Shannon or why Shannon is behaving the way she does. The use of both watercolors and pencils give the story’s gentle message of overcoming one's fear, more emphasis.
Almost every spread has a fact about what the story just mentioned. When the boy observes how big the horse is, the fact is about how a horse’s height is measured or when they feed the horse, the fact comments horses are herbivores.This line is in smaller print and a different font.
The last spread has an author’s note about the illustrator, which the book has based the Catherine person on and her horse with a picture. It also has some horse care tools and an index which would make this fit better in the nonfiction section of the library. It will appeal to horse lovers but can be used for lessons on conquering fear.
Oral
R
Pre Kindergarten through 1st grade
Almost every spread has a fact about what the story just mentioned. When the boy observes how big the horse is, the fact is about how a horse’s height is measured or when they feed the horse, the fact comments horses are herbivores.This line is in smaller print and a different font.
The last spread has an author’s note about the illustrator, which the book has based the Catherine person on and her horse with a picture. It also has some horse care tools and an index which would make this fit better in the nonfiction section of the library. It will appeal to horse lovers but can be used for lessons on conquering fear.
Oral
R
Pre Kindergarten through 1st grade
January 4, 2019
A young kid has a friend who owns a horse. The friend wants to introduce the little boy to the horse and take him on a ride. At first the boy is hesitant because of the horse's size, but with a little time and care, he just may make a new friend!
Okay, so this is almost the perfect book for me. The illustrations are delightful, the subject is exactly up my alley and the content is almost completely correct. (Love that the horse owner cleans the horse before riding, has the little boy wear a helmet and doesn't try to ride with him, but leads the horse, also that they tack up and ride English style! However, the owner doesn't help him mount correctly for his size and the horse's height; and yes, that is "reaching" for an issue, but it is a mistake that I find pretty significant.)
No content issues.
December 31, 2018
A little boy meets Catherine, a nice lady who introduces him to Shannon the horse. Catherine shows him how she cares for Shannon and then takes the little boy on his first horse ride.
A simple introduction to horses and horseback riding for kids. There are little strings of additional text on several pages telling readers about various aspects of horses and equine equipment. The illustrations are beautiful and match the calming sense to the story as the boy's nervousness about riding are allayed in meeting Shannon and learning things from Catherine. A great read for any child who is about to go horseback riding for the first time or horse lovers.
A simple introduction to horses and horseback riding for kids. There are little strings of additional text on several pages telling readers about various aspects of horses and equine equipment. The illustrations are beautiful and match the calming sense to the story as the boy's nervousness about riding are allayed in meeting Shannon and learning things from Catherine. A great read for any child who is about to go horseback riding for the first time or horse lovers.
April 12, 2019
Links to maths - discusses the size of the horse in hands which is the unit we measure horses in.
Links to science - discusses vegetarians. Could then lead to what vegetarians, pescatarians are and omnivores, carnivores and herbivores. Ask the children to guess which one the horse is.
Links to art - the illustrations are beautiful. Lots of techniques are used which children could produce their own artwork in the style of.
Relatable to children as lots of children try horse riding when they are younger.
Links to science - discusses vegetarians. Could then lead to what vegetarians, pescatarians are and omnivores, carnivores and herbivores. Ask the children to guess which one the horse is.
Links to art - the illustrations are beautiful. Lots of techniques are used which children could produce their own artwork in the style of.
Relatable to children as lots of children try horse riding when they are younger.
August 1, 2024
My daughter is 3 years old and recently really got into horses. This book was perfect for her. The illustrations are beautiful. The book not only tells a story but also gives information about care and riding horses. I would definitely recommend this book to others who have little ones interested in horses.
August 18, 2025
As a horse lover, I ate this book up! Loved seeing the first-time interactions of a young child with a horse he both deeply admires and deeply fears. The descriptions of grooming a horse, tacking them up, and going for a beginner's ride were excellent. Loved the mixed media illustrations, watercolor, pencil and charcoal—gorgeous.
December 25, 2018
A child visits an adult friend with a horse. They are nervous but overcome that and ride the horse.
Facts about horses are shared on most pages and at the end of the story.
Realistic illustrations capture the emotions for humans and the animal.
Facts about horses are shared on most pages and at the end of the story.
Realistic illustrations capture the emotions for humans and the animal.
January 2, 2019
Lovely illustrations of a boy’s first meeting with a friend’s horse. Fact about horses and horse care are sprinkled throughout, a few more in the author’s note, including a photo of the illustrator’s horse who is featured in the story. Adore the last pic of the boy hugging the horse!
January 21, 2019
A boy meets his friend's (the illustrator) horse (the illustrator's horse). Told in first person and captures the feelings of timidity you'd have the first time meeting and riding a horse as a child. Lovely artwork and unique concept.
June 13, 2018
A gentle story from author and illustrator who obviously know and love horses.
September 1, 2018
A gentle, reassuring story about a boy who is wary of horses and his friend who helps him overcome his warriness.
October 30, 2018
Beautifully illustrated book about a young boy overcoming his fear of a very large but extremely gentle and loving horse.
November 2, 2018
Een boek over vrienden maken en je angsten overwinnen.
Review volgt op Maandag.
Review volgt op Maandag.
November 9, 2018
A beautifully illustrated introduction to horses.
November 19, 2018
Beautiful end pages! This is a simple introduction to horses and horseback riding for your children. Horses are big and can be intimidating, but be quiet and gentle and enjoy a ride.
November 26, 2018
Cute book!
January 20, 2019
I love Rayner's books. Great introduction to horses.
July 2, 2025
the picture of the kid hugging the horse at the end 🥺🥺
December 27, 2023
The combination of introducing a person to riding a horse and the care that you must be provided for a horse is brillant. Vivian French has shared a very sweet and thoughtful story based on a horse named Shannon that belongs to Catherine Rayne the illustrator of the book. The index of terms at the end of the book is very helpful to the reader's understanding. Additional sources of information is also provided so that readers can further their research of horse care. The pictures of the labeled tools is great. The illustrations of Catherine Rayne are very beautiful and simple for the reader to understand. The end papers are very appealing and inviting.
November 15, 2019
This is a lovely book with a lovely story and some interesting information about horses. ‘Hello, Horse’ is part of the Nature Storybooks collection which is a collection of books that focus on different animals and plant life, introducing them with facts through interesting stories. The story in this one is simple but so very sweet. The narrator, a child, we never know their name, begins by saying that Catherine, a adult woman, has a friend called Shannon. Shannon is a horse and the narrator goes on to meet her, learning more about horses before eventually riding her.
The story is simple but follows this narrator as they get to know Shannon the horse. As well as the main story, which is lovely to see unfold, especially with the added illustrations, we also get to learn some interesting horse facts, such as the height of the horse, or why they are brushed. The extra factual information is written in a smaller text, compared to the larger text of the story and I like the way this is done as it doesn’t interfere with the main tale and can be read later or during the telling of the story.
The story has a lovely ending with the narrator becoming close to the horse and the illustrations really help to emphasis just how lovely and sweet the horse is and the relationship the horse has to the child she meets. I really do love the illustrations in this book, the pictures are a mixture of painted images with some pencil markings and at some points some of the countryside plants just look like bits of splattered paints. It really is a mixture of media but I love how it looks and it does work really well! The horse just looks so adorable and sweet and when you get to the ending of the book there’s some extra information that just makes reading this all the more special.
Hello horse book page image two
At the end of the book there are some author notes which explain how the illustrator is the same Catherine in the story, and that Shannon is a real horse. There’s even a picture of the real Shannon and this just made me smile so much! It somehow makes this particular Nature Storybook from the series all hte more special and I’m sure many kids will enjoy seeing the picture of the real horse alongside the one that’s illustrated in the story. As well as the author notes there’s a little more information on horses too, and the back page has some notes to parents and teachers on how to use the book which is a good bonus.
I’d really recommend this book to anyone who wants to get their kids interested in horses or nature in general. This book really does appeal, the images really make me smile and it’s also a good story for kids who may feel nervous around horses, which the narrator is the first time they meet her. Overall a lovely story book and one which I can’t help but want to look back at and share again and again.
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy for review.
The story is simple but follows this narrator as they get to know Shannon the horse. As well as the main story, which is lovely to see unfold, especially with the added illustrations, we also get to learn some interesting horse facts, such as the height of the horse, or why they are brushed. The extra factual information is written in a smaller text, compared to the larger text of the story and I like the way this is done as it doesn’t interfere with the main tale and can be read later or during the telling of the story.
The story has a lovely ending with the narrator becoming close to the horse and the illustrations really help to emphasis just how lovely and sweet the horse is and the relationship the horse has to the child she meets. I really do love the illustrations in this book, the pictures are a mixture of painted images with some pencil markings and at some points some of the countryside plants just look like bits of splattered paints. It really is a mixture of media but I love how it looks and it does work really well! The horse just looks so adorable and sweet and when you get to the ending of the book there’s some extra information that just makes reading this all the more special.
Hello horse book page image two
At the end of the book there are some author notes which explain how the illustrator is the same Catherine in the story, and that Shannon is a real horse. There’s even a picture of the real Shannon and this just made me smile so much! It somehow makes this particular Nature Storybook from the series all hte more special and I’m sure many kids will enjoy seeing the picture of the real horse alongside the one that’s illustrated in the story. As well as the author notes there’s a little more information on horses too, and the back page has some notes to parents and teachers on how to use the book which is a good bonus.
I’d really recommend this book to anyone who wants to get their kids interested in horses or nature in general. This book really does appeal, the images really make me smile and it’s also a good story for kids who may feel nervous around horses, which the narrator is the first time they meet her. Overall a lovely story book and one which I can’t help but want to look back at and share again and again.
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy for review.
August 28, 2020
The story of a young child, and his first experience and introduction to a friend's horse named Shannon. Throughout the pages, several facts about the history, care, and upkeep of the animal are shared with the reader. The illustrations in the book are by the owner of Shannon.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews