The Lost Horse: Forced from Home and All Alone
BraveHeart Chronicles Series
What’s inside...
A heartwarming tale of a young horse who is separated from its family during a storm and embarks on a journey filled with adventures and challenges in its quest to find home and reunite with its herd. A gentle story of family separation among refugees, teaching empathy and courage through the eyes of a wild mustang. Two wild mustang sisters, born wild and free to graze and gallop with their herd, live peacefully on a prairie they've called home for generations. One day, a greedy human has another plan for their land, and they are chased into the desert. What will our brave young hero do when she finds herself homeless and separated from her sister? From debut author-illustrator Charlotte Manning comes this compassionate and urgent call to understand the plight of so many refugees forced to flee their homes, and torn from family along the way. Suitable for young readers aged 5 and older as a thoughtful introduction to or discussion of this subject.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
8-12
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think the horse felt when it was separated from its home?
What would you have done if you were in the horse's place?
Can you name some ways the horse tried to solve its problem?
What does this story teach us about courage and friendship?
How do you think the story would change if it was set in a different place or time?
Tip: Role play these questions
Before reading, ask your child what they think the book might be about just by looking at the cover and title. This sets the stage for active reading.
Pause at critical moments in the story to ask your child to predict what might happen next. This enhances their analytical thinking.
Relate the horse’s feelings and experiences to something your child has gone through to personalize the story and deepen understanding.
After reading, encourage your child to draw a scene from the book. Discuss the scene they chose and why it stood out to them.
Use expressive voices for different characters to make the reading more engaging and help differentiate the characters in the story.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Resilience in the face of adversity
Explanation: The story follows a horse that, after being separated from its home, learns to overcome various challenges in the wild.
Real-World Application: Children learn to adapt to new situations and face challenges with courage, useful in situations like moving to a new school or dealing with changes at home.
Example Lesson: Importance of empathy and kindness
Explanation: Throughout the journey, the horse encounters other animals and people who help it, illustrating acts of kindness.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to help others in need, fostering a sense of community and understanding.
Example Lesson: Value of perseverance
Explanation: The horse continually strives to find its way back home, demonstrating determination.
Real-World Application: Teaches children the importance of not giving up, even when faced with difficulties, whether in their academic or personal lives.
Example Lesson: The power of hope
Explanation: Despite the odds, the horse maintains hope throughout its journey, which ultimately leads to positive outcomes.
Real-World Application: Instills a sense of optimism in children, encouraging them to stay hopeful in challenging times.