If I Was a Horse - by Sophie Blackall (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A child imagines what life would be like as a horse."--

Book Synopsis

INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER!​ ★ "Charming and whimsical visual surprises are found throughout the impeccably designed pages...An exquisite equine fantasy, this encourages imaginations to giddyup and run wild and free."--Booklist, starred review
A gift for any child with an unbridled imagination, this bestseller from award-winning creator Sophie Blackall captures the astonishing spectacle of life as a horse. And with a cover adorned with glitter, this romp really sparkles!

If you were a horse, what would you do? Could you fit in your clothes? Would you give your little sister a ride? Would your brother even notice?

Gallop along with two-time Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall through this riotous day in the life of a child who imagines their life as a horse. What ensues are uproarious, resonant episodes that feature a giant horse in familiar settings offering both a visual feast, a grand dose of joy, and a celebration of the real power of imagination to help us navigate the world.

Review Quotes

Praise for If I Was a Horse:
A Kids' Indie Next List Pick
An American Library Association Notable Children's Book of 2024
An Amazon Best Book of 2023​
A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book 2023
A CCBC Choices Best Book of 2023
A Children's Book Council Favorites Awards, Children's Favorite

* "Every illustration invites readers to pause to appreciate its details."
--Shelf Awareness, starred review

* "Charming and whimsical visual surprises are found throughout the impeccably designed pages...An exquisite equine fantasy, this encourages imaginations to giddyup and run wild and free."--Booklist, starred review

"A whimsical picture book that embarks on a journey of imagination...­A wonderful reminder of the power of imagination and a launching point for story hour discussions."
--School Library Journal

"Throughout this cozy view of longed-for freedoms in childhood, Blackall's signature-style illustrations summon giggles..."--Publishers Weekly

"Detailed and nuanced. . . There's a sensitive heart and sharp eye in the humor here."
--Horn Book

*"A perfect melding of beautiful art with soulful, imaginative writing, this lovely story, penned by Colebourn's great-great granddaughter, is ideal for sharing aloud or poring over individually."--School Library Journal, starred review

*"Little ones who love Milne's classic stories will be enchanted by this heartening account of the bear's real-life origins."--Booklist, starred review

*"The book strikes a lovely, understated tone of wonder and family pride...[Sophie Blackall] proves that she's equally imaginative at chronicling straight-on reality too."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

*"The sum total is as captivating as it is informative, transforming a personal family story into something universally resonant."--Horn Book, starred review

"Delightful...[with] colorful, sweet, gently humorous illustrations...There'll be no neigh-sayers for this one."--Kirkus

Praise for Farmhouse:
A 2022 KIRKUS BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK
A 2022 SLJ BEST BOOK
A HORN BOOK FANFARE
A 2022 PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST BOOK
A 2022 BOOKPAGE BEST BOOK
A 2022 WASHINGTON POST BEST BOOK
A 2022 NYTIMES BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK
AN NPR BEST BOOK OF 2022
A 2022 BOOKLIST EDITORS' CHOICE
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING BEST KIDS' BOOKS OF 2022
2023 ALSC NOTABLE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
2023 CCBC CHILDREN'S CHOICES LIST
2023 BANK ST COLLEGE BEST BOOKS

Praise for Finding Winnie:
A #1 New York Times bestseller and Winner of the 2016 Caldecott Medal
A New York Times Notable Children's Book of the Year

Praise for Hello Lighthouse:

A New York Times Bestseller and Caldecott Winner
* "Blackall's charmingly old-fashioned art style is beautifully matched to this nostalgia-rich story, which imbues an antiquated place with warmth and wonder."L--Booklist, starred review

* "A delightful bedtime read perfect for one on one sharing."

--School Library Journal, starred review

* "It's a jewel of a creation and a gift to those who dream of retreat."

--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"I will be surprised if a more exquisite picture book will be published this year...Children will be fascinated..."

--New York Times Book Review

* "Genuinely captivating...A meditation on the creative process...Multifaceted and arresting...Irresistible."--Booklist, starred review

*"A love letter to the joys of country living and family life as well as the importance of treasuring the past and all its stories."--School Library Journal, starred review

*"A lovely, tender reimagination of people in a long-past time and place."--Kirkus, starred review

*"Blackall's illustrations are everything here, incorporating wallpaper, fabrics, and other items scavenged from the house melded together with ink, watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil to create vibrantly layered compositions with a tactile quality."--Horn Book, starred review

*"A sophisticated, openhearted ode to what truly makes a house a home...Vividly realized...."--BookPage, starred review

*"The tale's strong sense of place undergirds Blackall's witness to the way environments change over time and stories survive long after material objects disappear, in a thoughtful, expertly executed work that looks simultaneously forward and back."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"a tender, layered masterpiece that itself deserves to be passed along for generations."--New York Times

"Exquisite"."--Wall Street Journal

"Gorgeously illustrated...[a] delightful telling."--New York Times Book Review

About the Author

Sophie Blackall is the bestselling and two-time Caldecott medal-winning artist behind Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear, Hello, Lighthouse and Farmhouse. She is also the proprietor of Milkwood, a creative retreat for children's book makers. She lives between Brooklyn and a farm in upstate New York.