Jody Mackey , creator of the girl-empowering, delightful, Sally Loves® Children's Book Series - has created another breakout juvenile fiction picture storybook Sally Loves Horses . A heartwarming, inspiring western horse adventure that young girls can easily relate to. In Sally Loves Horses , Sally and Cheza, best friends, have wonderful ease, finishing each other's sentences and lobbing compliments to one another. It is easy to feel like you have known them for a long time. Sally Loves Horses is a beautifully illustrated story about active young girls dreaming of competing in a western barrel race at the rodeo. Follow Sally’s adventure as she dedicates herself to horses and riding. As the story unfolds, in addition to valuable lessons about following one's dreams, author Jody Mackey illustrates the reward of determination and encouragement from friends and family. Sally inspires young girls to seek out sports and activities―empowering young readers to make their own dreams come true. Children’s horse book. Western adventure story about barrel racing. Interest level 4-10 Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: Easy to read Score: 84.9 Automated Readability Index: 3.2 Grade Level: 8-9 yrs. old (Third to Fourth graders) Mackey's (Sally Loves to Dance!, 2014, etc.) third series installment follows a young girl's dream of riding in a rodeo. Sally dreams of riding in the barrel races and practices her skills with her horse Dillon, under the guidance of a horse trainer. After she has her first fall, she becomes part of the Dusty Bottoms Club, but the other girls at the ranch help her up and celebrate her efforts as the mark of a determined rider. Sally's love for horses is unqualified and pure: To her, their beauty and strength are magical. And the girls, for whom horses are a shared and stimulating bond, form a sisterhood: The riders at Ladysmith spend a lot of time together. They laugh and hug. They are always happy, and everyone really loves horses. Readers will appreciate the supportive, promising advice of the horse trainer, which leads to the story s ending: Remember all your training. Ease into the barrels, sit hard for the turns, and then let him go. This book invites young readers to indulge their passions for horseback riding and to learn some terms of the sport along the way; for example, footnotes define Western style, trot and lope, curry, and leadline. Charming pictures of life at Ladysmith Ranch appear on every page and direct readers through the story. They'll also catch glimpses of butterflies, birds, a cricket, a frog, a rabbit, a mouse, and a wonderful white cat; it s a pleasure to scan the scenes for these little creatures, as each one adds a touch of specificity and whimsy to the fairly simple presentation. Dark outlines surround bright, medium-hued watercolor-style images, which have just enough facial detail to distinguish Sally from her best friend, Cheza, whose grandmother owns the ranch. Distinctive markings contrast Dillon, the gentle and familiar horse, with Duke, a bigger, more spirited animal. The difference in the horse's temperaments, in fact, is almost a story of its own. "A graceful, inspiring children s book about horseback riding." --Kirkus Reviews "Sally Loves Horses is a heart-warming, inspiring picture book story that is unreservedly recommended for family, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for young readers." - --Children's Bookwatch Hardback Book Sally s adventures continue with Sally Loves . . . Horses. Sally is passionate about horses. She is charming, energetic, ever so determined, and with just the right amount of fearlessness. Sally dreams of competing in a barrel race with her friends. Sally is a special little girl, and such a uniquely wonderful role model. She inspires young girls to get up, start moving and seek out sports or activities that they love and enjoy. Sally empowers little girls to make their dreams come true. Jody Mackey resides with her husband in Tucson, Arizona. A University of Arizona graduate, she leads an active, healthy lifestyle. It is Mackey's vision to promote reading, inspire and encourage young children to have confidence and to follow their dreams. Hardback book