Kentucky Derby Book List: Books for Young Horse Lovers

The Kentucky Derby runs every first Saturday of May. Will there be another Triple Crown winner this year? Will an underdog horse come from nowhere to win? Or, perhaps we will discover new hat fashions for women?

My family watches the Kentucky Derby on TV every year with festive food and drink in hand (we love us some Kentucky Hot Browns and Derby Pie!). But I credit the books I read about horses as a child with stoking that initial desire; even when the horse in the book didn’t actually go to the Derby, the Derby still seemed to encapsulate the mark of true horse greatness. I just knew the Black Stallion would win the Derby if he was there. Or Misty of Chincoteague.

Kentucky Derby Book List: Books for Young Horse Lovers

Enjoy these horse books for both boys and girls of all ages (some of which feature the actual Kentucky Derby and some of which merely celebrate horses). Titles linked to RR reviews where applicable. If you have bonafide young horse lovers in your house already, try an amazon search for “horse picture books” and you’ll find some great nonfiction gems and a coloring books or two.

[Parent pro-tip: do not search for “cowboys” or even “horse books for boys” without some age parameters in place; there are a slew of romance novels with steamy covers that are cowboy related. This is just as true of your local public library as it is for amazon.] (Amazon links on RR are affiliate links—thanks for supporting the site!)

PICTURE BOOKS AND EASY READERS

Cowboy Small by Lois Lenski. A retro picture book now available in board book format, the Papa Small books are delights. Every young cowboy should see this one. Picture book, ages 0-8. Buy from amazon.

Dust Devil by Anne Isaacs and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky. The legend of the Swamp Angel continues in this tall tale about a bigger-than-life girl and her equally bigger-than-life horse. Tremendous fun. Picture book, ages 4-8. Buy from amazon.

The Mare on the Hill by Thomas Locker. Almost a picture book version of Misty of Chincoteague in that siblings get to know a mare and her foal. Richly illustrated. Picture book, ages 4-10. Buy from amazon.

Ride On, Will Cody!: A Legend of the Pony Express by Caroline Starr Rose. Buffalo Bill once rode for the Pony Express. This book recounts his most famous journey. Picture book, ages 4-8. Buy from amazon.

Step Right Up: How Doc and Jim Key Taught the World about Kindness by Donna Janell Bowman, illustrations by Daniel Minter. Children will be fascinated by the heartwarming story of “Doc” Key and his amazing horse Jim, who used their talents for good. Picture book, ages 4-10. Buy from amazon.

Sergeant Reckless: The True Story of the Little Horse Who Became a Hero by Patricia McCormick and illustrated by Iacopo Bruno. Did you know that a little horse received two Purple Hearts and earned the rank of staff sergeant? A heartwarming story. Picture book, ages 6 and up. Buy from amazon.

Let ‘er Buck! George Fletcher, the People’s Champion by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by Gordon C. James. Black cowboy George Fletcher, the “People’s Champion,” is the subject of this story from the old west. Picture book, ages 5-10. Buy from amazon.

Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa by Erica Silverman and illustrated by Betsy Lewin. A fun twist on the easy reader motif of person + animal best friend, Cowgirl Kate and her horse, Cocoa, have all sorts of adventures. Note: we haven’t read every book in the series; as always, read discerningly. Easy reader, ages 4-8. Buy from amazon.

Good Night, Knight by Betsy Lewin. A simple easy reader for those just beginning to test out their reading skills (and perfect for future knights in shining armor!). Easy reader, ages 4-8. Buy from amazon.

Billy and Blaze by C. W. Anderson. Another classic series, the Billy and Blaze books are perfect for that short season when kids are ready to move on from the simple words in easy readers but not quite ready to tackle a true chapter book. Easy readers, ages 4-10. Buy from amazon.

Leroy Ninker Saddles Up by Kate DiCamillo. Jaunty, boisterous Leroy Ninker and his horse, Maybelline, star in this first volume of the Tales of Deckawoo Drive. Chapter book, ages 6-12. Buy from amazon.

MIDDLE GRADES BOOKS

The Black Stallion by Walter Farley. Hard work, grit, adventure, and the bond between horse and boy make this a good read still today. The first book is better than the rest of the series and is fantastic in audio format. Middle grades/ages 8-12. Buy from amazon.

Mr. Revere and I by Robert Lawson. The horse narrates this hilarious history book. Middle grades/ages 8-12. Buy from amazon.

Misty of Chincoteague and others by Marguerite Henry. The undisputed master of horse stories for elementary-aged kids, Henry’s books are still beloved by many. Middle grades, ages 8-12 (but younger kids can listen in just fine!). Also recommended: King of the Wind. Buy from amazon.

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. “The” classic horse story. Middle grades, ages 8-12. Buy from amazon.

The Horse and His Boy by C. S. Lewis. A fantastic adventure in Narnia with some of the best scenes/examples of “Aslan’s” sovereignty of any of the books. Fun fact: this is my (Betsy’s) favorite Narnia book! Middle grades, ages 8-12. Buy from amazon.

My Friend Flicka by Mary O’Hara. A boy and his horse, growing up and maturing together in true Western style. Another horse classic. Middle grades, ages 8-12. Don’t forget about other middle grades pioneer/Western stories that also have lots of “horse sense” to them: the Little House Books, the Little Britches books, and Caddie Woodlawn. Buy from amazon.

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo. A horse’s perspective on WWI. Worth reading and, of course, better than the movie! Middle grades, ages 8-12. Buy from amazon.

Storm Horse by Nick Garlick. A horse book for boys! Storm Horse pits a boy and a horse against a greedy land developer in the modern-day Netherlands. Middle grades, ages 8-12. Buy from amazon.

Ride On by Faith Erin Hicks. A graphic novel that horse aficionados will eat up! Middle grades, ages 8-12. Buy from amazon.

TEENS

Ghetto Cowboy by G. Neri. Ghetto Cowboy tells a heartwarming story of family, hard work, and horses in the midst of urban Philly. See Polo Cowboy for the follow up story! Teens, ages 12+. Buy from amazon.

The Accidental Highwayman by Ben Tripp. Here’s the subtitle: Being the Tale of KIT BRISTOL, His Horse MIDNIGHT, a Mysterious Princess, and Sundry MAGICAL PERSONS Besides. That should give you an idea of both plot and style. Teens, ages 12+. Buy from amazon.

SEABISCUIT: TWO OPTIONS

Come on, Seabiscuit! by Ralph Moody. Seabiscuit is the classic American story of rising up from obscurity to greatness through hard work and sheer talent–and it’s a true story! And there is horse racing aplenty in his story. Delightful in audio and more family friendly than the Seabiscuit title after this. Middle grades, ages 8-12.

Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand. Yep, the same Hillenbrand that wrote Unbroken wrote a gripping narrative about this amazing little horse. Older teen/young adult/adult (note: the life of a jockey often involved less-than-savory living including drinking, gambling, and prostitution. Seabiscuit’s jockey was not immune although the book doesn’t celebrate these—rather, they are evidence of his hard life and poor decisions. The book is a good read, all in all, but best saved for older teens and up.) Buy from amazon.

There are millions of horse books out there—what favorites of yours have we missed? Let us know in the comments!