Starlight (Scholastic Reader: Level 3)

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Synopsis

When the Clark family's mare, Midnight, gives birth to a foal, young Haley is entrusted with her care. She names her charge Starlight. Haley loves the little foal, but Starlight is more interested in playing than training and never comes when she's called. One night, just as a storm is rolling in, Starlight goes missing. Haley and her dad start searching the surrounding woods without luck. Then Haley wishes on a star and her wish is fulfilled when Starlight finally comes at Haley's call. After that the girl and the horse become best friends.

Review

Starlight is one of the first two books published in the multi-author Breyer Stablemates series, which was created as an accompaniment to the popular collectible Breyer horse figurines. However, as far as I can tell, each story in the series is a stand-alone, so they can be read in any order. It's also a Level 3 early reader with super-short chapters, which create a slightly more involved story with more challenging vocabulary for emerging readers. Haley's family lives on a farm, and one night their Morgan horse Midnight gives birth to a foal that Haley names Starlight. Her parents leave Starlight to her care, and the little horse proves to be both a delight and a challenge to young Haley. Starlight would rather run and play than be trained and she doesn't respond when Haley calls her. One night Starlight escapes through a hole in the fence into the nearby woods. With a storm brewing, the Clarks are eager to find her, but not having much luck. Then Haley spots a star in the darkness, which she wishes upon, and this time, when she calls, Starlight comes. After that girl and horse become inseparable friends.

When I was a girl, I definitely fell into the category of being horse-crazy, reading just about any story I could get my hands on about horses. I think that's part of what attracted me to pick up Starlight. It's a cute, sweet story about the friendship between a girl and her horse that could also teach kids about taking responsibility for the pets in their lives. Because it's an early reader, the story is a simple one, without a lot of heft to it, but it was enjoyable for what it was. The book also includes a one-page fact-sheet on the Morgan horse at the end. I think it would be perfect for any youngster who is horse-crazy like I was in my youth. This was my first read in the Breyer Stablemates series, as well as my first by Kristin Earhart, but it was good enough to leave me open to trying more of the series and perhaps seeking out more of the author's work.

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