Little  Viking Horse-Catherine Holland- Childrens (9-12 years) book

Oh be still my beating heart! Anyone who is around horses or owns them will know there is a very special quality to them, if you know and if you give it and them time and patience. This book shows this even within the first few pages. Flaygur is a young Icelandic trained horse (Icelandic being different “steps/gait” to what normal UK horses would be trained to which is explained in the book but worth looking at a video) and goes to his first owner Jones. Jones’ stable boy Roger is a kind young lad and has that special horse whispering quality about him. For non horse people- there is a language between horses and humans without speech. Body language and temperament (of the human) can tell the horse so much about you. I truly believe that they can communicate quite unlike no other animal- there is a sensitivity about them that somehow gets in touch with our inner being. This tells the story of Roger and Fleygur and their adventures.

The cover of this is stunning. I once heard that horses' eyes can see into the soul. If you know, you know and this cover says so much about this to me. I’ve been around horses on and off all my life and had not come across these gaits- very interesting- so smooth looking! Although a children's book I believe adults will enjoy it too. We all can learn a little about the magic of animals and that special bond that there can be between us and them. 

Wow! What a stunning read! It might be for children but it came across evoking that special bond and so much that children or non horse people could learn from reading. Every year I award my special 5** to around 10% of the total books I read (around 210 total). this is my first one of this year and very much deserves it. It's more than a story, I can’t quite explain it. Special, stunning and one I shall always treasure. 

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Purchase link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Viking-Horse-Catherine-Holland-Bax/dp/1919630104/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3VCNU6C4QFWS3&keywords=little+viking+horse&qid=1641632152&sprefix=little+viking+horse%2Caps%2C487&sr=8-1

Book blurb:Sold to a new home, Icelandic horse Fleygur longs to find a horse-talking human who can understand him. Instead, he endures cruelty and is finally abandoned. Rescued by 11-year-old Roger, Fleygur begins to believe he has found 'the one'. 

But can they each overcome their past trauma? Can Roger hold on to his little Viking horse, and will Fleygur trust Roger enough to follow him into a burning barn...?

A heart-warming story of trust and friendship, for 9-12 year-olds and horse lovers of any age.

Little Viking Horse explores the special bond between a horse and his boy, Roger, as they learn to truly listen to one another.