One of the first things I noticed when reading through Appaloosa Horses, was the lovely pictures. To me, horses are most often breathtaking and these fit into that category. The horses appeared to be looking gently, right at me, as if saying, "Hello!". They made me smile.
In my opinion, the accompanying script was simple and basic enough for potential young readers to read, understand, and subsequently learn about these beautiful creatures. Additionally, the Nez Pearce, a Native American tribal group, got honorable mention. Elements of multicultural interest are a plus for me.

Other book features are the glossary of terms used within the book and then the 'Thinking Questions' that I believe gives added impact towards educational input.

Overall, I give this children's non-fiction, educational work, a 5 Star rating.

~ Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger ~

August 2026

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent to me by NetGalley and the publisher.

There’s something instantly inviting about Appaloosa Horses by Anne Accardi — the way it opens the gate and lets young readers wander right into the world of these beautifully speckled horses. The photographs are truly stunning, the kind that make children pause and lean in a little closer, and the text has that gentle rhythm that teaches without ever feeling like a lesson.

My daughter adored this book. She’s in that wonderful stage where horses feel almost magical, and seeing Appaloosas up close on the page made her eyes light up. What made it even sweeter is that her aunt, who loves horses just as much, lives in Idaho — Appaloosa country — so the book became a little bridge between them. It gave her a sense of connection, like she suddenly understood something special about a place and a person she loves.

The book does a lovely job introducing the breed’s personality and quirks, and the “helping humans” section is just right for young readers who are beginning to understand how animals and people care for one another. It’s the kind of nonfiction that slips learning in so gently that children don’t even notice they’re gathering facts; they’re simply enjoying the experience.

A bright, engaging choice for early readers — and a beautiful way to nurture a child’s love for horses.

Thank you to NetGalley and Norwood House Press for providing an advance reading copy.

⭐ 4.5/5 → 5/5
📸 Photography: 10/5

Appaloosa Horses is a great example of how effective children’s nonfiction can be when it understands the value of restraint.

Designed for grades K–2, this book doesn’t try to cram an entire equine encyclopedia into 24 pages. Instead, it gives emerging readers manageable pieces of information about Appaloosas—their appearance, history, characteristics, uses, and care—in short, highly readable sections with plenty of white space.

But the photography? The photography is the MVP.

These aren’t just pretty horse pictures added around the text. The photographs actively teach. Multiple Appaloosas help children see that their coats don’t all look identical. A close-up makes striped hooves immediately understandable. Other photographs demonstrate riding, exercise, feeding, and the breed’s different uses. There was even one photograph so beautiful that my immediate reaction was essentially, I would frame that.

Whomever selected these photographs: bonus. Immediately. 😂

The historical information is similarly well judged for the age group. The book introduces the Nez Perce connection, the Palouse River’s relationship to the breed’s name, and the Appaloosa’s status as Idaho’s state horse without wandering into information overload.

I also appreciated the actual early-reader design. Large text, short sentences, generous white space, bolded vocabulary, and predictable organization make this feel like something an emerging reader could genuinely navigate rather than a book with K–2 subject matter written at an older child’s reading level. The glossary is especially thoughtful, with simple definitions and pronunciation help.

If I could add one thing, it wouldn’t actually be more information. I’d make the relationships between existing facts clearer. Some facts are specifically about Appaloosas, while others—such as needing water, hay, exercise, and shade—are general horse knowledge. Simple wording like “Like other horses, Appaloosas…” would help beginning readers understand which facts distinguish the breed and which teach them about horses more broadly.

That’s a refinement to an already successful book, though.

And yes, before anyone asks: we have officially progressed beyond spotty pony. Although “Dalmatian horsey” remains scientifically valid in my heart. 😂

Who Should Read?

Horse-loving K–2 readers, emerging nonfiction readers, classrooms, libraries, and families looking for approachable animal nonfiction. It’s especially well suited to children whose curiosity is driven by photographs—they’ll have plenty to examine while learning genuinely memorable facts.

This is a wonderful introduction to appaloosas. Children are often so fascinated by their beautiful coats, and there's a lot more for them to learn about in this book, such as how gentle they are, how they're used for rodeos. how they're on TV, and (who knew?) that they have striped hooves.

Appaloosa Horses has absolutely beautiful pictures. My daughter has recently become interested in horses, and this book was perfect! Just enough information to keep her interested but not enough to overwhelm her.