• Title: Rosie and Scamper
• Author: Vicki Watson
• Illustrated by Becky Raber
• ISBN: 978-0-9847242-0-8
• Genre: Fiction                                        
• Page count 147
• Ages 9-12 
• SRP: $7.95
• http://www.sonrisestable.com/

  Rating:  

Rosie and Scamper is the first book in the Sonrise Stable series. Eight-year-old Rosie loves visiting her grandma who lives on a horse ranch. When a new foal is born, they name him Scamper and Rosie gets the job of training him. Grandma’s neighbors have a new addition to their family–a foster child named Carrie who is Rosie’s age. The two become fast friends and both enjoy learning to ride and care for the horses, eventually riding them in a horse show. 

Watson does a good job of tying in spiritual truths with the things the girls learn about horses. I also liked that Rosie is a Christian and Carrie is not. Rosie uses opportunities to show God’s love to Carrie and to share her faith, giving readers a chance to see how it can be done in a natural way.

Watson gives good information about horses and the equestrian life that obviously comes from her own life experience. Kids will learn a lot about horses as they read. At the end of the book she has a page about horse safety, and an interview with a horse trainer. These special features are fascinating reads, especially for kids who may be interested in horse training as a future career. The final page is about making your own horsehair jewelry, just as Grandma did in the story.

Rosie and Scamper is a great book though I would have liked the girls to figure out more of the spiritual lessons through their own experiences rather than through stories the adults told..I would highly recommend this book to girls who love horses and want to grow in their faith..Kids will love the beautiful pencil drawings of illustrator Becky Raber. The second book in the Sonrise Stables series, Carrie and Bandit, is also available. Both books can be bought at http://www.sonrisestable.com/horse-books-purchase.php or on Amazon at
http://www.amazon.com/Sonrise-Stable-Scamper-Vicki-Watson/dp/0984724206/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1332044542&sr=1-4.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for this review.