The real cowgirl by Isabelle Duff and Susannah Crispe

A delightful story is told by the horse as it watches its young charge become more sure of herself, eventually finding a friend. Sal is a very competent rider; she can do all sorts of tricks with her horse and rides it everywhere on the family farm.  She would love to be a real cowgirl to match her father who is a cowboy, droving the cattle, keeping them safe on their farm.

At home she and her horse can do a load of circus tricks, tricks which reveal her competence at riding the horse, but when Sal goes to school, she loses her confidence.

Here she has no friends, she no longer feels smart or wild, brave or strong. The horse senses that if the children could see Sal in the paddock with her horse, they would learn that she is all the things she is not at school. One day Sal summons the courage to tell her classmates about her horse and her skills. Several are impressed but one sees her on the weekend. Together the pair ride their horses, setting out on a mission in the forest. The next day Sal skips to school, feeling very brave. She is a real cowgirl.   

Children will love watching the horse as it tells the story of Sal, demonstrating through the lovely illustrations how the animal feels for her owner. A rewarding story about feeling brave, but having the courage to tell people how you feel, the illustrations are stunning, the use of watercolour giving a wraparound feeling of intimacy and involvement in the surroundings on the farm. Crispe has an interest in zoology and her horse images are beautifully formed, and the other animals that eagle eyes will spot in the background, are redolent of the Australian countryside.    

For more information about Susannah Crispe, go to her website. 

Themes: Australian bush, Horses, Bravery, Courage, Shyness.

Fran Knight