Farmer Boy (Little House, #2)
by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams (Illustrator)

4 out of 5 stars

Almanzo Wilder is growing up on the farm, helping his father with all the chores and planting and harvesting. But he isn’t allowed to go near the young colts, for fear that he would startle them or teach them bad habits. More than anything, Almanzo longs to have his own colt to break and ride, but his father says he is too young. Year after year, Almanzo works in the barn and in the fields, determined to prove to his father that he is ready to have his own colt.

Little House on the Prairie (Little House, #3)
by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

This is my umpteenth time reading this book, and I enjoyed it just as much as I did when I was a girl! There’s a simple charm to these stories of pioneer life that invites you in.

As always, Laura is my favorite character because she is spunky and brave and hilarious, while her sister Mary is prim and boring.

We the Sea Turtles
by  Michelle Kadarusman (Goodreads Author)

2 out of 5 stars

This collection of short stories follows different children around the world who encounter sea turtles in some way. Each child is inspired by the turtles to live their life with courage and be true to themselves.

I enjoyed the basic stories, but I got so annoyed with the constant preaching about the environment that I DNF’d the book at page 103. It was even more annoying because some of the things the characters were saying about the environment and pollution and carbon footprints are only theories, not fact. So it was weird that they were talking about climate change, but not giving all the facts.

Out of the Valley of Horses
by Wendy Orr (Goodreads Author)

4.5 out of 5 stars

Honey and her family went on a road trip and discovered a hidden valley where a herd of wild horses live. Once they cross the river to enter the valley, they can never find the bridge again, and must live in the valley for the next seven years. Honey and her little brother, Rumi, grow up riding the wild horses, planting crops and fishing for food, and enjoying an idyllic life of peace. But when danger threatens their family, Honey must trust the horses to show them the way out of the valley when the time is right.