This article is in collaboration with Appaloosy Books.
Horse fiction books have captured readers of all ages for years and years, especially children. “The history of mankind is carried on the back of a horse.” – Author Unknown
Mattie Richardson authored Blue Skies West, a horse fiction book that takes children and adults westward across new terrain to Oregon country. Indians, buffalo stampedes, bad guys, hunger, raging river crossings, disease, and death. The hardships and dangers never cease, as seen through the eyes of Blue, the family horse that dreams of green pastures ahead.
This paperback book consists of twelve chapters plus an epilogue. It also includes interesting facts about the Oregon-California Trail and the emigrants that traveled it in the Blast from the Past section at the book’s end.
Mattie Richardson also included a comprehensive bibliography at the end of Blue Skies West for any child wishing to read further on the topic of the Oregon Trail.
Mattie Richardson published her first horse fiction book at the age of sixteen! She is known to those around her as North Dakota’s Teen Author. Mattie is not a teen anymore, but her goal is to write full- time and she encourages children of all ages to write as well. Her author website can be found at Appaloosy Books.
The Newest Horse Fiction Book
Blues Skies West is Mattie’s newest book in her Horses in History series, which helps children ages 8-14, see historical events in a whole new way. Through her writing, Mattie makes facts and details memorable through the horses that experience them. Other books in the series include
- Appaloosy features Storm, a beautiful Appaloosa horse, also heading west
- Dusty’s Trail highlights the fearless horse, Dusty, with the Pony Express
- Golden Sunrise teaches Cheyenne about the Alamo
- Day and Night present two horses, Day and Night, during the American Civil War
The Homeschool Review Crew reviewed the previous four books in the Horses in History series.
Appaloosy Books offers an Enrichment Guide for Dusty’s Trail and Day and Night. These Enrichment Guides provide ideas and activities to explore each book’s history topic. Appaloosy plans to release Enrichment Guides for the other books in the future. In addition, Mattie Richardson is currently working on more horse fiction books concentrating on the state history of North Dakota.
So, for any child who loves history and horse fiction books, check out Mattie Richardson’s newest book, Blue Skies West.
Special thanks to Ellen W. from Homeschooling Highway for writing this introductory article.