If a Horse Had Words

by Kelly Cooper, Lucy Eldridge (Illustrator)

For horse-loving readers of all ages, a lyrical and exquisitely illustrated picture book following the relationship between a boy and a horse, separated then reunited. This is a story about enduring friendships and how language is shaped by our experiences.

The foal is born on a spring morning of sunshine and snow melt. If she had words, she would say willow, crocus, puddle and sky. . .

Red Badger is a newborn foal learning to stand when she slips and gets stuck in a muddy badger hole. It is a young boy who frees her, and his kindness and gentleness mark the beginning of their friendship — though she will always be wary of the ground that briefly trapped her. As the seasons pass on the ranch, Red Badger learns more about her world: Fall is leaf rustle and fence posts. Winter is white hills and long nights. The boy is hay, a gentle touch, playing in the snow and the sweet smell of peppermints. If a horse had words, the word would be . . . friend.

This is a beautifully written and heartwarming story told from the horse’s point-of-view that follows her relationship with a boy from the day she is born, to when she is sent to auction, to the day she and the boy are reunited at a rodeo, where she has become a bronc and he a cowboy.

Genres: Picture Books, Horses, Animals, Friendship, Childrens, Fiction

48 pages, Hardcover

Published June 5, 2018

About the author

Kelly Cooper teaches art and writes poetry, short fiction and books for children. Her first picture book, If a Horse Had Words, illustrated by Lucy Eldridge, won the Alice Kitts Memorial Award for Excellence in Children's Writing. Kelly grew up on the Saskatchewan prairie and now lives on a dairy farm in New Brunswick with her husband, her daughters, a hundred cows, a silly dog and a six-toed cat. She started her relationship with horses at age two, when she fed a pail of oats to a large horse named King.

Reviews

[Shai]

If a Horse Had Words is another great children's book that I've received an ARC from the publisher. The story is about the horse named Red Badger that was born and raised on a ranch by the boy and its father. She spent a lot of time with the boy and when a certain incident happened, she was separated from him.

Over the years, she never forgets him and in the end, they had a happy ending because they were able to meet again. This story kind of reminds me of the classic story of the Black Beauty because of the similarity on the plot; this book could serve as a preparation for young kids for advance books, such as Anne Sewell 's, when they got older.

[TarHeelReader]

If a Horse Had Words is a wonderful children's book with the endearing story of Red Badger, following her birth all the way to the rodeo. Red Badger has a love for her boy, and the way it is described will melt your heart. Lovers of horses and their children will enjoy this sweet, phenomenally illustrated story. Luckily, we all know horses don't have to have words to show us their love. Beautiful book! 🐴

Thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley, for the complimentary copy.

[Sandra]

A heartwarming story about a foal and his boy. I am sure that kids interested in horses will love this one.

I received this copy in an Early Reviewers Giveaway in LibraryThing.

[Vera Godley]

This is an endearing book about a boy and a horse. From the birth of the horse until a year or so later when he is sold, the boy and the horse interact. Told in the voice of the horse and as if a horse actually had words as humans have, the life and environment of a young horse is experienced.

After the horse is sold, he is amidst a herd or bunch of horses and then active in the rodeo environment. What escapes me, however, is the inference that the "boy" of the young horse's life is now a rodeo rider riding astride the same, bucking horse.

Still this is a lovely book, beautiful wording, and good art work. Sure to be a winner with the young boys who will have it read to them or to young horse enthusiasts.

I "won" a copy from the LibraryThing program. A review is appreciated but not required and opinions are mine alone.

[Mary]

Thanks to Netgalley

I found this a book for children that reminds me of the old Disney movies like Old Yeller and Big Red...It begins with danger and fear when a horse is born but gets stuck in the mud and cannot stand on its own. A young boy rescues her gently. They go through the seasons together and the horse learns about the world around him including the kindness of the young boy who takes care of her If a horse had words he would call the boy a "friend." Unfortunately, the horse never forgets the first experience of trying to stand and needing help so she is skittish and bucks the owners' son the first time someone tries to ride her. The horse is sold at auction for that..
Years later the young boy is now a cowboy and meets up with the horse no one could ride. Gentleness and kindness return and if the horse could talk it would use the word "friend."
Beautiful book and story on many levels...but not too many for the little ones.


This book could be good for ages 2-5. It is good for the story and would be good for pointing tto pictures and for beginning reading.

[Siusan]

This is a wonderfully illustrated story for anyone who has loved a horse. The tale follows a horse and the boy who rescues her. They spend seasons together but the boy loses the horse because she will not be tamed and bucks him. During the time spent apart the horse almost forgets the boy but when they meet again, in a very exciting scenario, she recognizes his peppermint smell and they both experience joy. The watercolor pictures that accompany the story are absolutely beautiful. The landscapes, the animals, and the people are all aesthetically painted with such bright, pleasing colors it draws in the reader. Both children and adults will enjoy this lovely picture book.

[Lori]

It's a cute little book! This is for children around 2-3 years of age
I loved the illustrations and it made me feel like I was one with the horse.
I also felt like this was more along the line of poetry of which i I don't care much for.
However; it was beautifully written.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and was in no way required to review this. All opinions are my own

[Emily]

Nice horse story. This is a good introduction to horses. A little verbose at times for the younger crowd but it is a nice story.
Horses
Friends

[Jason]

A lovely story about losing something and finding it again. Or maybe it's about a relationship that wasn't ready the first time around and gets another chance...

[Bea]

This was a slight but sweet story of a friendship between a horse and a boy. A foal is born, struggles to stand, and soon is stuck in a hole. As we follow the foal's antics, we see her thoughts, in single words, as she takes notice of her world. When a young boy rescues her from the hole, she attaches herself to him and they become from friends and we follow them through seasons. Alas, an idiot trainer does a poor job of gentling her to saddle and, blaming her for his failure, sells her. Time goes by, and then the horse and her boy, now grown, are reunited.



It's a simple story showcasing the love between an animal and a human. The artwork is sparse, done it watercolors in lovely medium tone colors. "If A Horse Had Words" was lovely to look at at and sweet story of friendship.

[Erika]

I love everything about this book--the-tug-at-the-heartstrings-story, the beautiful word choice, and the illustrations (which another reviewer rightly compared to the look of old classics like Old Yeller or Lassie). Perfect, from beginning to end.

[Storywraps]

Horse-lovers unite! This book is for you.

This delightful tale is about a foal that is born one spring morning and instantly becomes aware of her surroundings. If she had words she would say willow, crocus, puddle and sky.

This sweet foal while learning to stand on her own gets stuck in a muddy badger hole and needs the assistance of the ranch owner and his son to help pull her out and then up onto her feet. She never, ever forgets that experience of feeling trapped. It is a fearful one indeed.

Time passes and she becomes more aware of her world and if she could express words for her observations: for the seasonal changes the word would be (seasons), for when the boy calls her Red Badger (name), for the gentle, loving touch and peppermint smell of the friendly boy (friend).

The time comes for Red Badger to be horse-broken, which means she needs to be tamed so someone can sit on her back and ride her. The young boy puts a saddle on her and mounts up. Unfortunately Red Badger is still full of fear thinking the ground is unstable beneath her and she may get stuck again! She becomes frightened and bucks the boy off landing him on the ground on his backside. Oh my! No!!!!

The boy's dad sees her reaction to her training session and decides that she is incapable of having a rider so he takes her to a local horse auction where he sells her to the highest bidder.

She finds herself on a new farm and the time passes causing memories of her prior life fade. When Red Badger looks up at the sky she thinks of the boy and if a horse had the word it would be... remember.

Fate smiles down on her (and the boy). Miraculously they are reunited at a rodeo once again. Will she allow her grown-up cowboy to ride her now?

This heartfelt story has beautiful illustrations that enhance the narrative greatly. It is told through the eyes of the horse and expresses the strong feelings of both the mare and the boy, now a man, towards each other. That strong familial bond between them has never disappeared. If you are a horse-lover then you will truly enjoy this book.

[Deepika]

If my canine friend Anu Boo had words, she would say… treat, squirrels, biscuits, crows, buttermilk, dosai, idli… :) Our Red Badger — a young horse — in If A Horse Had Words might say peppermint, boy, seasons, and a bit more difficult ones like crocus, willow…

If A Horse Had Words is heavily reminiscent of Charlotte’s Web. That’s saying something. Although this book is thin, its soul is as tender as EB White’s book.

The story is not new. A foal is born. She befriends a boy, the boy’s father sells the little horse, and they finally reunite.

No. I didn’t spoil it for you. The real beauty lies in the simplicity and the warmth of Kelly Cooper’s words and Lucy Eldridge’s watercolour illustrations.

If A Horse Had Words inspires me to go back to watercolour which I haven’t remembered for years. It also motivates me to kidnap children only to read this book to them. :)

Reading a book like If A Horse Had Words is like meditating. Time seems to shrug off the haste when I pay attention to these subtle words and subtler colours; my mind, which usually travels in the speed of several light years, stops, curls up like a kitten, and looks at me with benevolent eyes. Maybe, this is why I am incurably in love with children’s literature.

More views are here: https://newfracturedlight.wordpress.c...

[Jackie Ostrowicki]

The foal is born on a spring morning of sunshine and snow melt. If she had words, she would say willow, crocus, puddle and sky...

Poetic, beautifully written and illustrated book about the relationship between a children and animals...specifically, between a boy and his horse, and what the horse would say if it could talk. The story is told from the horse's point of view. Not only is it a story about friendship; it's a story about language is shaped by our experiences and our journeys.

He opens his hand. On his palm, a peppermint. The boy blows a breath of greeting into her nostrils She nickers. If a horse had words, the words would be....friend.

The story was inspired by author Kelly Cooper's experiences growing up on a farm in Saskatchewan, which you can view here .

Time passes, and the place where she was born slips further and further away. But when she looks at the sky, she thinks of the boy. If a horse had words, the word would be....remember.

I can't explain how poetic the language is. It's just beautiful. This would be an amazing book even without the lovely illustrations. The line breaks and sentence breaks are handled deftly, adding to the craft with which the book was written.

The poignant beginning (birth) circles back to a poignant ending (reunion). And if a horse had words, the word would be...joy.

Pick up this joyful, beautiful book today.

[Carla]

This is a beauifully written and illustrated story for anyone who has loved a horse. The tale follows a horse from the time it is born through his trials and tribulations. When the young foal gets stuck in a badger hole, the boy saves him and they form a bond. They grow closer throughout the seasons as the horse learns new words. Unfortunately for the horse, he develops a phobia of the ground. When the boy tries to ride the horse, he is bucked off so his father sells him at auction. During the time spent apart the horse is used as a bucking bronco in the rodeo, no one can ride him because he does not want his four feet on the ground. He almost forgets the boy but when they are reunited she recognizes his smell and they both experience JOY. If you have ever loved and lost an animal, you will understand how they feel being together again. The watercolor pictures that accompany the story are absolutely beautiful. The landscapes, the animals, and the people are all painted with bright, pleasing colors it draws in the reader. Both children and adults will enjoy this lovely picture book. A great addition to a school, class, family or public library. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

[Margaret]

When you enter your favorite indie book shop sometimes you are looking for a specific title. On another occasion you search a subject area or genre with no special book in mind. There are certain circumstances when after locating what you want, you are drawn to another shelf for no particular reason. It's uncanny how you reach for a book, read it and realize it speaks to your reader's heart.

You stop for a few moments wondering why this title speaks to your reader's heart. If A Horse Had Words (Tundra Books, June 5, 2018) written by Kelly Cooper with illustrations by Lucy Eldridge is one of those books. It addresses with great care and insight how bonds are built between humans and animals. Some animals have a large capacity for understanding and unconditional love.



My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...

[Debra]

The bond between a child and a baby horse is beautifully depicted in this simple story with lyrical language making it a great book to share. I especially like the way the tension and fear and calm and understanding of both the young horse and the young boy rise above the reality of life on a farm where animals come and animals go often far too soon. Though I expected the ending, it was still magically unfolded. Perhaps in your library there is a young animal lover who needs a book like this one where the feelings of that bond between a patient person and a frightened animal are rewarded by a seemingly unexplainable connection as is true for the boy and the horse inside this book. Perhaps you will have the chance to make that perfect connection between a child and this book and even better if the family of that child learns from the lesson within.

[Jana]

This lovely picture book would be great for young readers who enjoy stories about animals and people who become friends. Red Badger was born on a horse farm and became stuck in a badger hole when she was trying to stand up for the first time. It wasn't long before a boy and a man came along to pull her out. As the seasons came and went, she became friends with the boy. Unfortunately, she was sold to a rodeo as a bucking horse and it appeared that her time with the boy was finished. Young readers will enjoy finding out how the two found each other together again. This would be a good story to help discuss point of view, as the story is told from the horse's point of view. It's also a nice story about friendship.

[Arminzerella]

A new horse is born! But her legs are stuck in a hole in the ground. A boy comes to help her find her feet, and after she's free, she practically flies. She and the boy grow up together, playing, but when the time comes to ride her, she bucks the boy off. She is sold and goes to live with a new herd, but sometimes she thinks about the boy. Eventually she becomes a rodeo horse - where her job is to fling her riders into the sky. That's where she and the boy meet again - in the chute - and when they are released, they both leap into the sky (this time the boy stays on). A sweet, joyful story about a wild, happy horse and the boy who shares her spirit. It celebrates that spirit instead of trying to crush it out of either of them. A lovely story for horse-lovers.

[Tracy Poff]

A story of friendship between a boy and a horse: "If a horse had words, the word would be... friend."

The illustrations, done in watercolor, are full of energy, and the story isn't bad. There's more use of poetical and figurative language than is usual in picture books:

The boy reaches out, quick as sunlight, and takes the rope from around her neck.

The boy climbs gently onto her back. He is skinny, light as a hawk's feather.

They kick at the clouds and snort wishes to the night stars.

The book is full of little phrases that stick in the mind. It's interesting to read. A good selection for horse-lovers.

This review is also available on Barba Non DB.

[Richelle Zirkle]

This delightful children's book tells the story of Red Badger from her birth to her life as a rodeo horse. It's also the story of the boy who cared for her. The way the story is woven between the words the horse would say and the love the boy shows for her is endearing. The watercolor style illustrations are beautifully done. These images enhance the story telling. This is a book worth adding to a library or personal collection. It will be well-loved at our home by the little children and the big children their parents still are at heart.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin]

This story longs to be a young-adult novel that can explain this relationship, especially why the boy’s beloved horse must be sold at auction and live a horrible life as a bucking bronco, which are tortured with flank straps and spurs in order to give cowboys a good ride and audiences a good show. Yet when told from the forgiving horse’s point of view, the story gives interesting glimpses into how boy and foal ended up in the same arena, a vicious circle of samsara.

[Theediscerning]

I actually have to admit to getting more than I thought from this book - and I don't mean the pleasant, detailed and realistic watercolours. No, the story starts off by being equally pleasant, and gentle and poetic, and ends up going to some unexpected places. It's all perfectly suited to a young audience already keen on horses, so this has to be recommended.

[Barbra]

This is a touching story about Red Badger the horse. He sees and hears and feels his life through the seasons with a boy. Boy and horse bond but Red Badger just can't accept the weight of the boy riding him and is sold to a new ranch. They reunite and remember each other when they meet up at a Rodeo. This would make a wonderful gift to any young horse lover.

[Andrew]

Cute picture book about a boy who bonds with his horse, Red Badger. Red Badger is too wild to ride, and the boy's father sells her, but they are reunited at the end when the boy is grown up at a rodeo. I would have liked a less abrupt ending, but overall it's very sweet, and I love the illustrations with the simple backgrounds that compliment the typography.

[Julie]

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an adorable book. I loved the pictures. They were so different from what I'm used to seeing in picture books lately. The story was cute and in engaging for youngsters. A good read for kids that love animals, especially horses, and farms.

[Janet]

This is a debut picture book forKelly Cooper who is a kindergarten teacher. The story and illustrations look like the type of picture book that was published in the 1950s. The story is much too long and the sentence s will not hold a child’s interest. Definitely not a title would consider for purchase. Sorry.

[Wynee Igel]

I love horse stories. This was different part narrative and part poetry (?) about the life of a bucking bronco horse. The illustrations really show the feelings of the horse and boy. It made me think about the life of a bronco horse and friendship. If you have a horse-crazy young reader, they'll like this book.

[Casey]

This book is uplifting, and communicates very mature themes about friendship, kindness, and love in a way that is very accessible to young children.

Beautifully written, and featuring colorful illustrations, this is a wonderful story!

[Kelly]

This would be a very good book for children who like horses. The illustrations were nice, and the story was pleasant. I found it to be a tad bit obscure (for children) in places, but it was very nice.