Book picks similar to
Dark Sunshine by Dorothy Lyons


horses
children-s
horse-books
fiction

Freak the Mighty


Rodman Philbrick - 1993
    A wonderful story of triumph over imperfection, shame, and loss.

Old Yeller


Fred Gipson - 1958
    But he sure was clever, and a smart dog could be a big help on the wild Texas frontier, especially with Papa away on a long cattle drive up to Abilene.Strong and courageous, Old Yeller proved that he could protect Travis's family from any sort of danger. But can Travis do the same for Old Yeller?

Jack and Jill


Louisa May Alcott - 1880
    Their parents fill their days with the joys of Christmas preparations, a theatrical production and many other imaginative events.

Ginger Pye


Eleanor Estes - 1951
    The disappearance of a new puppy named Ginger and the appearance of a mysterious man in a mustard yellow hat bring excitement into the lives of the Pye children.

Pony Crazy


Bonnie Bryant - 1995
    They're May, Jasmine, and Corey -- three totally different girls with one thing in common -- they love ponies!Pony CrazyBest friends May Grover and Jasmine James each have their own pony. So does their neighbor, Joey Dutton. And when May, Jasmine, and Joey aren't riding their ponies in their backyards, they're riding them at Pony Club meetings at Pine Hollow Stables.Then Joey's family moves away, and a new neighbor moves in. At night, lights flicker on and off inside the house, and strange noises come from the stable.What's going on at Joey's old house? Can two pony-crazy girls find out?See back of book for May's Pony Grooming Tips!Don't miss The Saddle Club, the best-selling series by Bonnie Bryant!

Rascal


Sterling North - 1963
    Rascal is only a baby when Sterling brings him home, but soon the two are best friends, doing everything together--until the spring day when everything suddenly changes.Rascal is a heartwarming boyhood memoir that continues to find its way into the hearts of readers fifty years later. This special anniversary edition includes the book's classic illustrations restored to their original splendor, as well as a letter from the author's daughter, and material from the illustrator's personal collection."Everyone should knock off work, sit beneath the nearest tree, and enjoy Rascal from cover to cover."—Chicago Tribune

So B. It


Sarah Weeks - 2000
    In fact, everything about Heidi and her mentally disabled mother's past is a mystery. When a strange word in her mother's vocabulary begins to haunt her, Heidi sets out on a cross-country journey in search of the secrets of her past.Far away from home, pieces of her puzzling history come together. But it isn't until she learns to accept not knowing that Heidi truly arrives.

The Incredible Journey


Sheila Burnford - 1960
    And so the doughty young Labrador retriever, the roguish bull terrier and the indomitable Siamese set out through the Canadian wilderness. Separately, they would soon have died. But, together, the three house pets faced starvation, exposure, and wild forest animals to make their way home to the family they love. The Incredible Journey is one of the great children's stories of all time—and has been popular ever since its debut in 1961.

The Blue Roan Child


Jamieson Findlay - 2002
    A horse story like no other.Syeira is an orphaned girl who lives in a magical land. Fate pairs Syeira with Arwin, a wild mare whose two colts have been taken from her by the evil Lord Ran. Syeira pledges to help Arwin, and they embark on a dangerous quest to free the colts. Along the way, they encounter an array of strange and mysterious characters. But Syeira and Arwin must only trust each other --and it is their shared strength and courage that ultimately allows them to defeat Lord Ran and free Arwin's colts.

Take the Reins


Jessica Burkhart - 2009
    She's not exactly welcomed with open arms. One group of girls in particular is used to being the best, the brightest, and the prettiest on the team, and when Sasha shows her skills in the arena, the girls' claws come out. Sasha is determined to prove that she belongs at Canterwood. Will she rise to the occasion and make the advanced riding team by the end of her first semester? Or will the pressure send Sasha packing?

The Rose Legacy


Jessica Day George - 2018
    When she receives a letter from a long-lost uncle, she dares to dream that she will finally find a home. Upon her arrival she is shocked to learn that her uncle secretly breeds horses--animals that have been forbidden in their kingdom for centuries. More alarming is Anthea's strange ability to sense the horses' thoughts and feelings, an ancient gift called The Way. Confused and terrified, Anthea is desperate to leave, but when dangers arise that put her family and her kingdom at risk, she has no choice but to embrace The Way and the exciting future adventures it will bring her.

Incident at Hawk's Hill


Allan W. Eckert - 1971
    One June day in 1870, Ben wanders away from his home on Hawk's Hill and disappears into the waving prairie grass. This is the story of how a shy, lonely boy survives for months in the wilds and forges a bond with a female badger. ALA Notable Book. Newbery Honor Book.

I Want a Pony


Jeanne Betancourt - 1994
    If only she had a pony, then staying with her grandmother while her father is away would not be so bad. If she had a pony, she could ride with Pam and Anna. And then they could be friends - Pony Pals! When Lulu finds a pony in danger, she wants to help the wounded animal. Will she be able to save the beautiful pony?

The Blind Colt


Glen Rounds - 1941
    Relates the adventures of a blind colt as he roams with a band of mustangs and is eventually adopted and trained as a saddle horse by ten-year-old Whitey.

The War That Saved My Life


Kimberly Brubaker Bradley - 2015
      Ten-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute—she sneaks out to join him.   So begins a new adventure of Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan—and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother?   This masterful work of historical fiction is equal parts adventure and a moving tale of family and identity—a classic in the making.