Why Are Horses? by Brittany Long Olsen

 I've been a bit busy the last few days but am not going to let these reads skip out. So, I have two postings for today...one for yesterday and one for today. Both a little late but not forgotten.

Today's read heads into the nonfiction realm (yay!) and takes a look at horses. It's a fully illustrated read, so I do hope each horse breed is recognizable. I'm also curious how the horse information is going to be brought across...and what type of information is included.

So, go get all horse fans because this one should capture their attention...or that's what I'm hoping will happen. Let's open it up and find out!

WHY ARE HORSES

An Illustrated History of Horse Breeds

by Brittany Long Olsen

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Middle Grade Nonfiction

96 pages

ages 9 to 12

COMING OCTOBER 20th!!!

Ever wonder why Thoroughbreds are so fast or why Miniature Horses make great guides? Discover the history of 30+ horse breeds in this nonfiction book for kids, complete with comic panels and illustrations!

Why are Shetland ponies so small? Why are there so many horses in Mongolia? Why are Andalusians movie stars?

For hundreds of years, humans have been breeding horses and working alongside them, using them for everything from farm work, warfare, transportation, to sports. In this illustrated nonfiction book that combines comic panels, illustrations, diagrams, and text, readers will learn about the stories behind over 30 of the most popular horse breeds around the world and why they look and act the way they do. Discover the origins of Arabians, Thoroughbreds, American Paint Horse, and so much more!

Why Are Horses includes:

• 30+ horse breeds with origins from around the globe
• Diagrams showing each breed's unique features
• Comic panels that add humor and narrative
• Information that makes it a great classroom and library resource

Saddle up and discover the fascinating facts behind your favorite four-legged friends!

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Horses, horses, and more horses pack every page along with a vast amount of information to make horse fans' hearts trot faster.

This book is all about horses and especially takes a look at over thirty different breeds. It begins with an introduction to the history of horses, the various roles they've played, and how their relationship with humans developed. Then, the book dives into each breed, revealing their origins, purpose, facts, and other various information to give a very rounded look at each one.  At the end, there is a glossary of terms as well.

Everything about this book centers on horses and takes a close look at each breed. Four or more pages are given to each one, allowing plenty of space for the facts to unfold. Each one begins with the history of the breed before going into other information surrounding famous horses, roles they played in different situations, interesting facts, and more. To keep all of this information more digestible, each theme is placed in its own block of text with fitting illustrations. It carries slight nods to a graphic novel style but only loosely. The lean in this direction helps to keep things organized and allows readers to pick and choose the information. There's also a bit of humor added to keep everything relaxed and enjoyable. The illustrations bring across the breeds nicely and are similar enough to be recognized. Plus, they add variations in the coloring, as applicable, to help readers see realize the variety within each breed. There's also a diagram for each one, which highlights each breeds features. So, there's a lot of information packed inside these pages.

This is just right for middle grade readers and is a book which can be picked up as desired instead of being read all at once. I do wish there was a Table of Contents to help locate each breed easily, but that's my only small criticism. Otherwise, this is a book horse fans will really enjoy.

And here she is...

Brittany Long Olsen is a cartoonist and illustrator with a deep love of storytelling through comics. Her previous graphic novels for young readers include Magic in the Valley and The Happy Shop. She lives in the Portland, Oregon area with her partner and their Australian Shepherd mix named Jetpack.

Baby in Paris by Dorian Day

Today's read is the first in a series, which features a baby in striped PJs with a beanie who travels the world. This first book should highlight the major sites in Paris and promises beautiful, watercolor illustrations. I'm curious to see how it flows...and am more than happy to revisit Paris in the process. Whether this fits for ages 0 to 5, though, is something I'm wondering about.

Let's open it up and see how it does!

BABY IN PARIS

Baby Travel Books, Book 1

by Dorian Day

Picture Book

30 pages

ages 0 to 5

When Baby's family arrives at their Parisian hotel after a long flight, everyone settles down for a nap. Everyone except Baby.

This curious little 9-month-old has other plans. Slipping out of the hotel room, she embarks on an incredible crawling adventure through the City of Light. From the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe to Notre-Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and the charming cafés of Saint Germain, Beanie Boo explores 20 of Paris's most iconic landmarks, all before her parents wake up.

With enchanting watercolour illustrations that capture the magic of Paris in autumn, Baby in Paris is a whimsical bedtime story that will delight little ones and grown-ups alike. Perfect gift for baby showers, first birthdays, and families who love to travel.

GOODREADS    /     PUBLISHER     /     AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Every flip of the page opens up to beautiful views of Paris, while keeping a cute baby in the middle of everything.

When a baby's parents take her along on their trip to Paris, they don't expect her to unknowingly crawl out the hotel door and discover the city on her own. There are many sights to visit and little adventures to undertake...all before she grows tired again and has to return to the hotel for a nap.

This is a book that will delight two types of readers, those who know and adore Paris (most likely, the adults) and young listeners who enjoy watching babies. And yes, I do know of several toddlers who get excited whenever they see a baby. The scenes are lovely and draw in, while the characters carry quite a bit of reality to catch young listeners' attentions. The story itself is straight -forward and simply follows the baby from one place to the next. The name dropping is more meant for the adults, since most children won't be able to associate much with them. The older end of the intended age group can grab some first impressions of famous sights in Paris, although these still will connect best with those who have already visited the city or soon will be. It's a gentle tale and makes a nice bedtime read, especially since there's a last little twist at the end. 

It's an adorable book and will hit a niche group of young readers nicely. Otherwise, adults are sure to enjoy many of the scenes, making this a read that both sides can explore and enjoy.

And here he is...

Dorian Day is an author and adventurer who travels the world with his young family 200 days of the year. He creates children’s books, directly and indirectly inspired by his travels with his little ones. In 2026 Dorian created Baby Travel Books, a watercolour picture book series for the world's littlest explorers. Each book follows one adventurous baby girl (inspired by the author’s daughter), in her signature blue beanie and striped onesie, as she crawls her way through a different magical city, from the cobblestones of Paris to the cherry blossoms of Tokyo.

Told in gentle, simple words and painted in soft watercolour, the series was born from a simple belief: that it is never too early to start dreaming about faraway places. These are books made for bedtime cuddles and baby showers. New cities are always on the way. Follow along to hear when the next little adventure arrives.

• Series website: www.babytravelbooks.com 
• Baby in Paris: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2XQTSKP
• Baby in Rome: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H44Z5KCD

Same Time, Next Week? by Marlene Droop

Today's read greets from Germany and is being released in English next month. As a German/American household, this book, obviously, catches my attention. As a translator, I'm also very critical on these translations...which probably isn't fair, so I try not to get too harsh on that end. I do love the cover, too. These animals look like they are up to something, and I'm betting it will hold a bit of humor and imagination. 

Best way to find out is to open up the book and take a look!

SAME TIME, NEXT WEEK?

by Marlene Droop

Translated by Alisha Niehaus Berger

NorthSouth Books

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING SEPTEMBER 15th!!!

This sweet and funny road trip story celebrates finding support in friendship, even when things don’t go as expected.

Giraffe, Sheep, Turtle, and Crocodile have a common goal: to see the stars. They head out of the bright city on a road trip into the dark countryside. But plans can change when rain showers, snack breaks, and naps get in the way. Before they know it, the sun is rising! No big deal, say the friends, they can reach for the stars again. Same time, next week?

A gently humorous tale about friendship, expectations, and enjoying the journey by debut author-illustrator Marlene Droop.

PUBLISHER    /     GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

This tale is woven with a gentle tone, which invites to calmness, security, and dreams.

Giraffe and Turtle are underway in the van to pick up their friends Crocodile and Sheep. Together, they want to see the stars. Since the city lights make it impossible to view the gorgeous night sky, they head out into the country. But then, the entire sky is covered in dark clouds. The friends aren't sure what they'll do.

This read soothes while offering a little imagination and sense of friendship. The animals slide in with a sense of playful fantasy. The illustrations strengthen this atmosphere as they stick to a child-like style and let each scene unfold without even a dash of urgency. Instead, the car ride comes across with familiarity while each animal sneaks in a tiny twist of humor here and there to keep everything light and give them personality. When things don't go as the friends intended, they take it in stride without the slightest hint of negativity to create a wholesome read with goodness pure. So, this is a lovely read to ease into quiet hours.

The text stays at a few lines on each page, making it a quick read and ideal for groups or single settings. The vocabulary and tale fit even the younger end of the age group nicely. While there is a message surrounding expectations and what happens when they aren't met, this is very light and steers very clear of any preachiness. Instead, the tale feels a bit directionless. The friends are expectant but never seem to be overly excited to see the stars; they have very little reaction when the storm comes; and they don't really say or do too much when the sun rises. So, it stays fairly mundane on that end. But that's also what makes it a more soothing read to enjoy. The fantasy invites in, the animals will have readers wishing they could accompany them, and there is a gentle adventure to enjoy before drifting off to sleep. 

And here she is...

Marlene Droop studied graphic design in her hometown of Münster, Germany. She then moved to Hamburg to pursue a master’s degree in illustration. Her first young adult novel, Echt das Leben und Ich (Real Life and Me), was published in 2024 and nominated for the Stiftung Buchkunst award for the most beautiful German book.