HORSES

The history and habits of equines.

Horses, as we know them today, first appeared as a genus called Eohippus 52 million years ago, the size of a dog and sporting three toes in addition to hooves. A two-page spread displays how this little creature evolved into the majestic horses we know; great care goes into showing not only how the ancestors of horses looked, but also their leg bone structure within picture balloons. This latest in the series blends expert research with beautiful illustrations, allowing readers to absorb a vast amount of information in just 48 pages. Biology professor York explains not only how horses, zebras, donkeys, and other members of the family spend their days, but how they communicate and survive against drought, predators, and even each other. Like others in the series, this one offers a “day in the life” of various animals, presenting a different vignette for each hour of the day: a foal being born and walking within hours in the English countryside, a fight between mustangs on the Nevada plains. Explanations of the purposes of horsetails (nature’s fly swatters) and stripes on a zebra (to confuse predators) are just a few of the factoids found here, written in easy-to-understand prose. Prabhat’s illustrations effectively create a sense of place and action and differentiate the wide range of species. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A fascinating, easy-to-understand primer for anyone curious about horses.