If a Horse Had Words

K-Gr 3—When the foal is born she takes in her surroundings. As she stands for the first time, her back legs are stuck in a muddy hole, but a young boy and his dad come to help her free; still, she's forever fearful of the ground. As she grows into a horse, she has many experiences with the boy, running and jumping, and watching the seasons pass. Eventually, readers learn her name, Red Badger, and in her dislike of the ground, she accidentally bucks the boy off her back. His dad decides to sell Red Badger and she ends up at the rodeo. The boy, now older, arrives to ride at the rodeo. They recognize each other and their reunion brings them both incredible joy. This book is written in a poetic and lyrical manner, from the perspective of the horse. The watercolor illustrations give the book a dreamy quality, which fits perfectly with the text.