(3) 4-6 Photographs by Bob Langrish. Double-page spreads introduce the wide variety of horse and pony breeds, discuss the basics of equine care, and offer training tips for riders. The clear text is well supplemented by fact boxes and intriguing sidebars that touch on topics such as the standard layout of a dressage arena. The comprehensive coverage and numerous color photos will certainly draw horse enthusiasts. Websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Kingfisher Riding Club series. Photographs by Bob Langrish. An introduction on colors, markings, and types of horses is followed by brief paragraphs on different breeds worldwide, including a bit about each breed's background and a horse photo with points of conformation highlighted. The design is so dense it's hard to match caption with photo sometimes, and the vocabulary is limited, but horse lovers will appreciate the wealth of information. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 Kingfisher Riding Club series. Photographs by Bob Langrish. This instructional manual, thick with color photos often showing a numbered sequence of steps, gives thorough coverage of riding basics, including how to choose a stable for lessons, the tack used, and mechanics such as how to mount, turn, and stop. Tiny fonts, advanced vocabulary, and a crowded design hinder accessibility, but horse-obsessed readers will appreciate the depth. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) K-3 Animal Lives series. Illustrated by Bert Kitchen. This narrative text follows an otter through the cycle of a year. From hunting and mating to bearing its young and teaching the cubs to swim and find food, the book provides an up-close look at this increasingly rare mammal. Detailed watercolors in hues of brown, blue, and green accurately portray the animal and its river environment. Endnotes include sources for further information. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute