Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Read

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Libby

Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)

Screenwise Verdict

This is a beautiful, gentle book that won the Caldecott Medal for good reason—Goble's illustrations are genuinely stunning. But let's be real: it's from 1978, and it feels like it.

The pacing is slow, the storytelling is spare, and the magical transformation at the end (girl literally becomes a horse and gallops off) is presented without much explanation or emotional processing. For a modern kid raised on high-energy picture books with jokes and meta-references, this will feel... quiet. Maybe too quiet.

That said, if you have a horse-loving kid who likes contemplative stories, or if you're specifically looking for books that represent Native American perspectives (with the caveat that Goble was British, though deeply respectful), this is a solid choice. It's not going to change your kid's life, but it's a nice window into a different way of telling stories—one that values patience, connection with nature, and the idea that sometimes you belong somewhere unexpected.

Just don't expect them to ask for it again and again. It's more of a "that was nice" than a "READ IT AGAIN!" book.

Age Fit

Best for ages 4-8, especially horse-obsessed kids who will appreciate the reverence for these animals. The simple text works for early readers, but the contemplative tone and vintage pacing mean many modern 7-year-olds will find it slow. Not a book that older kids or adults will revisit.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

88

A gentle story celebrating connection between a girl and horses, with themes of understanding, care, and belonging. The transformation into running free with wild horses is presented as a choice rooted in love rather than abandonment. Emotionally tender without being saccharine, and models patience and empathy with animals.

Imaginative

82

Paul Goble's distinctive Plains Indian-inspired illustrations are visually striking and culturally specific. The magical-realist transformation of girl-becoming-horse invites wonder about the boundary between human and animal worlds. However, it's a contemplative picture book rather than an interactive or world-building experience—kids receive the story rather than co-create it.

Safe

92

Exceptionally safe content—no violence, scary moments, or inappropriate themes. The girl's departure from her tribe to live with horses might prompt questions about leaving family, but it's framed as a peaceful, willing transformation rather than loss or trauma. Caldecott Medal winner with decades of classroom use and no reported controversies.

Enriching

79

Offers a window into Plains Indian culture and relationship with horses, though Goble (a British-born author) has faced some criticism for cultural appropriation. The story invites empathy for animals and celebrates a different way of seeing the natural world. Reading level (Lexile 670, AR 4.1) makes it accessible for early readers. Strong Amazon rating (4.8/5) suggests enduring appeal, but enrichment is more cultural-aesthetic than cognitive skill-building.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Stunning, distinctive illustrations that blend Plains Indian design elements with contemporary artistry—visually unlike anything else on the shelf
A quiet, contemplative story about belonging and finding where you truly fit, which can resonate with kids who feel different
Celebrates a deep, almost spiritual connection with animals that horse-loving kids will recognize
Caldecott Medal pedigree means it's been vetted by librarians and educators for decades

⚠

What to Watch For

The pacing is slow and meditative—kids used to high-energy modern picture books may find it boring
The ending (girl transforms into a horse and leaves her tribe) might prompt questions about leaving family, though it's framed as peaceful and right for her
Some discussion about whether a non-Native author should be telling Plains Indian stories, though Goble was deeply respectful and spent his career honoring these traditions
Published in 1978, so the storytelling style feels distinctly vintage—not necessarily bad, just not what modern kids expect

Conversation Starters

"The girl understood horses better than people understood her. Have you ever felt like you connect more with animals than with some people?"
"She chose to stay with the wild horses instead of going back to her village. What do you think her family thought about that?"
"The horses trusted her because she was gentle and patient. How do you think animals can tell when someone is kind?"
"If you could understand one type of animal perfectly, like she understood horses, which would you pick?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic

The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses