Call the Horse Lucky

K-Gr 3—A girl helps a neglected horse in this heartfelt picture book about animal rescue. Bike riding in the country with her grandmother, Mel sees a despondent pinto alone in a corral. When she realizes that the horse is too skinny and moves painfully, her grandmother calls the Humane Society. Lucky, as Mel names him, is taken to a veterinarian and ultimately to a horse therapy ranch where he will live and work. Havill's conversational text keeps the story moving along swiftly without being hindered by a lot of detail, thus keeping the didacticism at a minimum. Lane's watercolor paintings deftly convey the emotions of both the horse and Mel. An afterword discusses how to help neglected horses and includes websites for further information. A solid choice for use in humane-education programs or to begin a dialogue about the proper treatment of these animals.—Kristine M. Casper, Huntington Public Library, NY