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Album of Horses
From award-winning author Marguerite Henry comes a classic reference work about horses and their origins.
How did the Morgan horse get its name?
What are the differences between a Belgian and a Clydesdale?
Why are the Byerly Turk, Darley Arabian, and Godolphin Arabian so important?
Find the answers to these and many other intriguing questions in Marguerite Henry’s Album of Horses . The award-winning author of Misty of Chincoteague and King of the Wind describes in vivid detail the hardworking Shire, the elegant Lipizzan, the spirited Mustang, and many more.
Each description is paired with a full color illustration by Wesley Dennis. This keepsake edition is a gorgeous addition to any collection of Henry’s books and a favorite for years to come!
How did the Morgan horse get its name?
What are the differences between a Belgian and a Clydesdale?
Why are the Byerly Turk, Darley Arabian, and Godolphin Arabian so important?
Find the answers to these and many other intriguing questions in Marguerite Henry’s Album of Horses . The award-winning author of Misty of Chincoteague and King of the Wind describes in vivid detail the hardworking Shire, the elegant Lipizzan, the spirited Mustang, and many more.
Each description is paired with a full color illustration by Wesley Dennis. This keepsake edition is a gorgeous addition to any collection of Henry’s books and a favorite for years to come!
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1951
43 people are currently reading
1315 people want to read
About the author
Marguerite Henry
124 books748 followersMarguerite Henry (April 13, 1902–November 26, 1997) was an American writer. The author of fifty-nine books based on true stories of horses and other animals, her work has captivated entire generations of children and young adults and won several Newbery Awards and Honors. Among the more famous of her works was Misty of Chincoteague, which was the basis for the 1961 movie Misty, and several sequel books.
"It is exciting to me that no matter how much machinery replaces the horse, the work it can do is still measured in horsepower ... even in the new age. And although a riding horse often weighs half a ton and a big drafter a full ton, either can be led about by a piece of string if he has been wisely trained. This to me is a constant source of wonder and challenge." This quote was from an article about Henry published in the Washington Post on November 28, 1997, in response to a query about her drive to write about horses.
Marguerite Henry inspired children all over the world with her love of animals, especially horses. Author of over fifty children's stories, including the Misty of Chincoteague series, Henry's love of animals started during her childhood. Unfortunately, Henry was stricken with a rheumatic fever at the age of six, which kept her bedridden until the age of twelve. Born to Louis and Anna Breithaupt, the youngest of the five children, Henry was a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Because of her illness, Henry wasn't allowed to go to school with other children because of her weak state and the fear of spreading the illness to others. While she was confined indoors, she discovered the joy of reading. Soon afterward, she also discovered a love for writing when her father, a publisher, presented her with a writing desk for Christmas. On the top of stacks of colored paper her father wrote, "Dear Last of the Mohicans: Not a penny for your thoughts, but a tablet. Merry Christmas! Pappa Louis XXXX."
Henry's first published work came at the age of eleven, a short story about a collie and a group of children, which she sold to a magazine for $12. Henry always wrote about animals, such as dogs, cats, birds, foxes, and even mules, but chiefly her stories focused on horses.
In 1923, she married Sidney Crocker Henry. During their sixty-four years of marriage they didn't have children, but instead had many pets that inspired some of Marguerite's stories. They lived in Wayne, Illinois.
In 1947, she published Misty of Chincoteague and it was an instant success. Later, this book—as well as Justin Morgan had a Horse and Brighty of the Grand Canyon—were made into movies.
She finished her last book, Brown Sunshine of Sawdust Valley, just before her death on November 26, 1997 at the age of 95.
"It is exciting to me that no matter how much machinery replaces the horse, the work it can do is still measured in horsepower ... even in the new age. And although a riding horse often weighs half a ton and a big drafter a full ton, either can be led about by a piece of string if he has been wisely trained. This to me is a constant source of wonder and challenge." This quote was from an article about Henry published in the Washington Post on November 28, 1997, in response to a query about her drive to write about horses.
Marguerite Henry inspired children all over the world with her love of animals, especially horses. Author of over fifty children's stories, including the Misty of Chincoteague series, Henry's love of animals started during her childhood. Unfortunately, Henry was stricken with a rheumatic fever at the age of six, which kept her bedridden until the age of twelve. Born to Louis and Anna Breithaupt, the youngest of the five children, Henry was a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Because of her illness, Henry wasn't allowed to go to school with other children because of her weak state and the fear of spreading the illness to others. While she was confined indoors, she discovered the joy of reading. Soon afterward, she also discovered a love for writing when her father, a publisher, presented her with a writing desk for Christmas. On the top of stacks of colored paper her father wrote, "Dear Last of the Mohicans: Not a penny for your thoughts, but a tablet. Merry Christmas! Pappa Louis XXXX."
Henry's first published work came at the age of eleven, a short story about a collie and a group of children, which she sold to a magazine for $12. Henry always wrote about animals, such as dogs, cats, birds, foxes, and even mules, but chiefly her stories focused on horses.
In 1923, she married Sidney Crocker Henry. During their sixty-four years of marriage they didn't have children, but instead had many pets that inspired some of Marguerite's stories. They lived in Wayne, Illinois.
In 1947, she published Misty of Chincoteague and it was an instant success. Later, this book—as well as Justin Morgan had a Horse and Brighty of the Grand Canyon—were made into movies.
She finished her last book, Brown Sunshine of Sawdust Valley, just before her death on November 26, 1997 at the age of 95.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
October 19, 2018
I still quite vividly remember signing Marguerite Henry's Album of Horses out of the school library in the early spring of 1977 (at the age of ten) and with much eager anticipation, but then not really all that much enjoying the different horse-breed specific anecdotes and sections (not because they were badly written, not because Marguerite Henry did not write adventuresomely and evocatively, but mostly because I personally felt that much essential horse-based information and details were missing, and that oh so many horse and pony breeds that should have been featured, that should have been covered had not been). And while I have certainly and to a certain extent considerably more enjoyed Album of Horses this time around than I did in 1977, my main areas of criticism actually remain exactly the same, namely that Marguerite Henry's text is for one much too United States of America oriented in scope and for two spends far far too much time celebrating and glorifying horse racing as some kind of noble and esteemed entity (as I for one most certainly have always found the "sport" of horse racing more than a bit problematic at best, with its money making and winning at all costs philosophies often if not even generally seemingly more important than the health and welfare of the horses engaged in, being trained and forced to run).
And furthermore why does Marguerite Henry in her sections on Arabians and Thoroughbreds really only ever mention these horses' speed and their racing successes, when in my humble opinion, it is of far greater and international significance that almost ALL modern Western and Central European warmblood breeds owe their litheness, their stamina, their athletic talents (as well as their refined outward appearances) to Thoroughbred and Arabian influences, to breeders deliberately using the latter to make the erstwhile rather heavy and stocky carriage and farm horses of Europe lighter, prettier and more graceful? For without this selective cross-breeding, today's Dutch Warmbloods, today's Trakehners, today's Hannovarians etc. would NOT AT ALL be the show jumping and dressage stars they usually and generally are. And with this fact in mind, I am also kind of majorly annoyed and frustrated that aside from the Lippizaner breed, Marguerite Henry mentions and features NO other European warmblood. For while I of course do not expect ALL European warmbloods to have been represented in Album of Horses, that only one single breed is shown is at least for and to me rather unacceptable (especially considering how many American breeds are featured). Two and a half stars for Album of Horses (as yes indeed, for me, the author's choices of which horse breeds to include and which not to include have always bothered me and continue to bother me more than a bit), rounded up to a low three star ranking, as I have in fact enjoyed Marguerite Henry's general writing style and story telling acumen, and I do very much applaud her for categorically pointing out more than once that feeding horses with sugar cubes is not at all beneficial to a horse's, to a pony's, actually to any equine's health and wellbeing, that sugar is as addictive to and for equines as it is to and for humans and just as unhealthy (and not just because it rots teeth).
And furthermore why does Marguerite Henry in her sections on Arabians and Thoroughbreds really only ever mention these horses' speed and their racing successes, when in my humble opinion, it is of far greater and international significance that almost ALL modern Western and Central European warmblood breeds owe their litheness, their stamina, their athletic talents (as well as their refined outward appearances) to Thoroughbred and Arabian influences, to breeders deliberately using the latter to make the erstwhile rather heavy and stocky carriage and farm horses of Europe lighter, prettier and more graceful? For without this selective cross-breeding, today's Dutch Warmbloods, today's Trakehners, today's Hannovarians etc. would NOT AT ALL be the show jumping and dressage stars they usually and generally are. And with this fact in mind, I am also kind of majorly annoyed and frustrated that aside from the Lippizaner breed, Marguerite Henry mentions and features NO other European warmblood. For while I of course do not expect ALL European warmbloods to have been represented in Album of Horses, that only one single breed is shown is at least for and to me rather unacceptable (especially considering how many American breeds are featured). Two and a half stars for Album of Horses (as yes indeed, for me, the author's choices of which horse breeds to include and which not to include have always bothered me and continue to bother me more than a bit), rounded up to a low three star ranking, as I have in fact enjoyed Marguerite Henry's general writing style and story telling acumen, and I do very much applaud her for categorically pointing out more than once that feeding horses with sugar cubes is not at all beneficial to a horse's, to a pony's, actually to any equine's health and wellbeing, that sugar is as addictive to and for equines as it is to and for humans and just as unhealthy (and not just because it rots teeth).
May 13, 2015
I opened a book cabinet and found this book I was searching for to give a young rider. (I have 6 copies)
I would think every horse lover would have this book on their shelf. It broadens knowledge of how beautiful all horses are.
Marguerite did a wonderful job.
I would think every horse lover would have this book on their shelf. It broadens knowledge of how beautiful all horses are.
Marguerite did a wonderful job.
January 8, 2017
I own this book!
I went through a very brief interested-in-horses period when a kid. My cousins, who lived across the street from me, owned horses, rode them, went to shows, etc., but I was just a bystander. I was a bit older than them and never got to own a horse. But...
In my backyard, which bordered on a huge pasture owned by a neighbor, there was always a horse. A Palomino, which the owner claimed was also an Arabian. Gorgeous big horse. We'd pat him, feed him, talk to him; he was quite intelligent and always came to the stone wall when we called him. His name was Saundy.
Back to the book, I read this book a dozen times! (Or more.) And as a result know the names, origins, etc., of many common horse breeds. (And some not so common, I guess.) I loved seeing this book in a list of a Goodreads member's favorites. One of mine, too!
I went through a very brief interested-in-horses period when a kid. My cousins, who lived across the street from me, owned horses, rode them, went to shows, etc., but I was just a bystander. I was a bit older than them and never got to own a horse. But...
In my backyard, which bordered on a huge pasture owned by a neighbor, there was always a horse. A Palomino, which the owner claimed was also an Arabian. Gorgeous big horse. We'd pat him, feed him, talk to him; he was quite intelligent and always came to the stone wall when we called him. His name was Saundy.
Back to the book, I read this book a dozen times! (Or more.) And as a result know the names, origins, etc., of many common horse breeds. (And some not so common, I guess.) I loved seeing this book in a list of a Goodreads member's favorites. One of mine, too!
January 27, 2016
Wonderful stories of real horses are included in the brief chapters on several varieties of these animals. The illustrations are beautiful. The book is written at a level for children, but there is plenty for adults as well. Very, very enjoyable read for those who love animals. The author is obviously one of those people. She's written a flock of books about horses and other animals as well.
August 3, 2016
Children's Book One of my two all time favorite books as I child. I spent hours and hours over the years gazing at the pictures with dreams in my head. (I'm the kid that asked Santa for a pony every year.) In fact, one of my criteria for picking a husband was how well he could ride. Me and my cowboy have been married thirty years now, live on a beautiful little ranch and have horses, my very own happy ending. :)
August 13, 2018
I picked up this childhood favorite on a recent trip in the Pacific Northwest. This is one of Henry's non-fiction books, a collection of essays about various breeds of horses: light breeds, drafters, and ponies alike. I remember checking it out of the library often as a child. I'm sure at one point I learned something from it, but I believe the main reason I was drawn back to it again and again was Wesley Dennis's beautiful illustrations. A full-page color illustration for each chapter/breed and little pen and ink drawings filling every margin of every page. And what a delight, something I had forgotten, was that one of the chapters was a story from Dennis's own childhood!
April 25, 2019
I had forgotten how much I loved Henry’s beautiful writing style. Her passion for horses shines through her books so much, like she can put into words the amazing feelings that horse people have felt about these animals. Marguerite Henry’s books should be read by every horsey person!
September 8, 2020
A classic for horse lovers.
April 30, 2022
4.5
Nostalgia read. I have no idea how many times I checked this out from my elementary school's library as a kid, but I loved it.
Nostalgia read. I have no idea how many times I checked this out from my elementary school's library as a kid, but I loved it.
February 2, 2024
I love the artwork in this book. Just beautiful.
July 5, 2017
This is one book that has often been recommended to me many times but one that I never got around to. Although I had read some of Marguerite Henry's books I kind of gave up on the "Misty of Chincoteague" series after a while since of the constant new appearance of books (it is a practice that is continued to this day with new series).
I found it an interesting work that explores the history of the equine world as well as some of its varied members including horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. Each entry was well thought out but some held information that only a person that is deep in the horse-world would know so it would go over your head when she mentioned a name that she thought you should know.
I liked how each of the chapters starts off with a full color picture of the breed in question than in the following pages in the borders are various illustrations of the horse whether in its history, its description, its daily acts or whatever. Mostly, though, I feel that a lot of these illustrations have been recycled from her previous works.
My only main complaint on the actual work is that it can be a bit gruesome such as with the casual explanation of watching a tigress sacrifice herself in a burning circus fire to protect her cub. Due to this and other parts that may seem a bit rough I would suggest recommending this book to older children rather than younger.
I found it an interesting work that explores the history of the equine world as well as some of its varied members including horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. Each entry was well thought out but some held information that only a person that is deep in the horse-world would know so it would go over your head when she mentioned a name that she thought you should know.
I liked how each of the chapters starts off with a full color picture of the breed in question than in the following pages in the borders are various illustrations of the horse whether in its history, its description, its daily acts or whatever. Mostly, though, I feel that a lot of these illustrations have been recycled from her previous works.
My only main complaint on the actual work is that it can be a bit gruesome such as with the casual explanation of watching a tigress sacrifice herself in a burning circus fire to protect her cub. Due to this and other parts that may seem a bit rough I would suggest recommending this book to older children rather than younger.
April 8, 2016
Way back in the age of the dinosaurs, I owned a substantial horse book collection (mostly gone now.) This was one of my most-read books. I used to take it out the library constantly until I finally got hold of a used copy when I was college-age or thereabouts. I managed to read it several times in the years I had it, even when I had other books sitting around unread. It's an old friend.
So perhaps my five stars for it is not entirely an objective look at the prose style (cute), information offered (pales in comparison to other non-fiction horse books) or even the artwork (stunning). Perhaps it's for the feelings it would stir in me whenever I read it, flipped through just to see the illustrations or even just looked at the cover. One day I may buy a replacement for my old buddy.
So perhaps my five stars for it is not entirely an objective look at the prose style (cute), information offered (pales in comparison to other non-fiction horse books) or even the artwork (stunning). Perhaps it's for the feelings it would stir in me whenever I read it, flipped through just to see the illustrations or even just looked at the cover. One day I may buy a replacement for my old buddy.
March 9, 2014
Four gold stars for a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Album of Horses was published in 1951, when I was a youngster. I was given the book, and read it over and over again. Of course, I loved horses, like most youngsters back then--especially girls. What I enjoyed this time around, close to 60 years later, is the understanding the artist and the author had about horses, the people who worked with them, trained them, handled them--it's as if I looked through a snapshot of a time when many children would still understand what a workhorse was, because all farms had not been fully mechanized. I once again enjoyed immensely the illustrations done by Wesley Dennis.
April 4, 2014
A beloved childhood favorite. How many long hours I spent mooning over those gorgeous illustrations, memorizing the attributes of each breed, and dreaming of having my own horse someday! And how many more hours I spent working to try to create drawings of my own to match Wesley Dennis' graceful, expressive lines. A cherished memory.
November 24, 2011
A nice little treasure that any horse-loving boy or girl will love. The illustrations are pretty and the text is informative while still being engaging.
December 7, 2017
4.5/5
I really do love this book. As a kid, it was one of my favorite books from the library - I would check it out all the time, and spend hours pouring over it, studying all of Wesley Dennis's perfect, perfect illustrations.
As an adult, rereading my own battered copy, I still love this book, love the way that Henry doesn't just say, "here is this breed of horse; it originated in this country; it's pretty cool," but instead takes her readers on a journey with each entry, a story to pull you into what really makes this particular breed special. It's a great place to start, a fantastic introduction to the world of horses.
I was surprised at how certain entries did feel dated - even back in the 50's, many farms still had draft horses in use, which Henry mentions - not really true now. But in some ways that just adds to the book's overall charm.
Like I said, the illustrations by Wesley Dennis cannot be beat, and it's worth picking up this book just to look at them. He was an amazing artist.
While this book isn't one that goes into a lot of detail, it's a great introduction to various horse breeds, and a wonderful book for the young horse lover in your life.
I really do love this book. As a kid, it was one of my favorite books from the library - I would check it out all the time, and spend hours pouring over it, studying all of Wesley Dennis's perfect, perfect illustrations.
As an adult, rereading my own battered copy, I still love this book, love the way that Henry doesn't just say, "here is this breed of horse; it originated in this country; it's pretty cool," but instead takes her readers on a journey with each entry, a story to pull you into what really makes this particular breed special. It's a great place to start, a fantastic introduction to the world of horses.
I was surprised at how certain entries did feel dated - even back in the 50's, many farms still had draft horses in use, which Henry mentions - not really true now. But in some ways that just adds to the book's overall charm.
Like I said, the illustrations by Wesley Dennis cannot be beat, and it's worth picking up this book just to look at them. He was an amazing artist.
While this book isn't one that goes into a lot of detail, it's a great introduction to various horse breeds, and a wonderful book for the young horse lover in your life.
April 22, 2019
I don't think I've seen Wesley Dennis's work in color. They're incredible and the black and white smaller pieces frame Marguerite Henry's text. The text comes in sections of three pages per breed, exotic color, and donkey and mule. A lot of the narrative for the breeds featured in another Henry book bring you back to those books, but you don't have to have had read them to understand the story and history. A few stories at the back are three paged flash fiction and not breed based.
One story that stands out to me is the one on the polo pony. The passage doesn't focus on the history of the ideal polo pony traits. It followed a teenaged boy who fell in love with the sport and found ways to ride horses and create his own polo training area. Who was this boy? None other than the illustrator, Wesley Dennis. Incredible.
One story that stands out to me is the one on the polo pony. The passage doesn't focus on the history of the ideal polo pony traits. It followed a teenaged boy who fell in love with the sport and found ways to ride horses and create his own polo training area. Who was this boy? None other than the illustrator, Wesley Dennis. Incredible.
November 14, 2024
I discovered that the many stories of horses that I enjoyed growing up (King of the Wind, Misty, etc) were the interruptions of the author while trying to write this book. But she kept finding out so many interesting things as she did research into the history of horse breeds.
So many things are now changed- for example, AQHA is the largest registry in North America by far... Which is such a massive change from being a fledgling stud book in the 1950s.
My favourite essays were the Suffolk Punch, the Appaloosa and the Shetland. ❤️
So many things are now changed- for example, AQHA is the largest registry in North America by far... Which is such a massive change from being a fledgling stud book in the 1950s.
My favourite essays were the Suffolk Punch, the Appaloosa and the Shetland. ❤️
May 13, 2018
This was a book in my room at my grandmother's house - I think it technically belonged to my aunt, but I enjoyed reading it on every rainy Saturday afternoon. Being a horse-crazy little girl, it was wonderful just from the pictures, but as I got older and read more proficiently the information was great as well. It might not be "up to date" for the new century, but the illustrations are timeless and lovely and the way the facts about each breed are presented is actually entertaining.
unfinished
December 30, 2022A vintage book from the 1950s, I picked this up at an Antiquarian Book Fair for my 12-year-old horse-crazy niece. I read the first few chapters and it seems quite informative, giving the history of a number of breeds. Henry applies her gift for storytelling to the nonfiction material to make it engaging for young readers, and there are both color and black and white illustrations. If you have a young horse lover in your life, this book is worth tracking down.
January 19, 2024
As a child, I had always loved horses and wanted one of my very own. This was never a possibility, but my parents knew how much I loved horses and wanted to learn about them. One Christmas I received this book and I don’t recall ever reading it, but I loved looking at the pictures. Fast-forward several decades, and I thought about that book and decided I would buy it and read it! I really enjoyed it and it brought back a lot of good memories!!
April 25, 2021
I read this many, many, MANY times all through elementary school. (I probably got it out of the school library about 100 times.) I have FINALLY, after over 30 years, purchased a copy for myself and another as a gift to a horse-loving 6-year-old that's already reading chapter books. I just hope she gets as much enjoyment out of it as I did!
April 2, 2023
This book was so good. Each sentence I relished, each word. Marguerite Henry is one of my favorite authors, and this book did not disappoint me. Each important breed is explained, most intertwined with History. And I've got to say, Wesley Dennis is one heck of a illustrator. One of my favorites. I highly suggest the album of horses.
April 16, 2025
I loved all of the Marguerite Henry horse books when I was growing up. This was one of my favorites because it had illustrations by Wesley Dennis of many breeds of horses all over the world along with a description and history of each breed.
March 7, 2017
Great horse book for kids
November 2, 2018
I loved these books growing up. I have a long list of them requested from the library. I was a horse girl!
January 3, 2019
I loved this book during my horse-crazy phase, and have kept my mom's copy because it is so lovely. Wesley Dennis' illustrations really make it, but the stories are also sweet and enjoyable.
December 29, 2020
I had this book as a child. I probably read it a thousand times. ❤
May 25, 2021
Loved the illustrations! It was interesting to learn the backstories of the different horse breeds, too.
June 20, 2024
Horses are one of my favorite animals. My friend let me borrow this book to get more ideas on drawing them.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews