The Riding Lesson

Frances loves horses and can’t wait for her first riding lesson. It can’t be all that hard, can it? From the creator of The Camping Trip, this spirited story is for kids who like horses or are trying something new.

Frances adores horses and knows everything about them—at least she thinks she does. But when she arrives at her friend Mae’s house for her first horseback-riding lesson sporting a bike helmet and rain boots, Frances quickly discovers that she might not know as much as she thought she did. Barns are actually a little stinky, and it takes a lot of time to brush a horse and tack it up (what does that even mean?). Not to mention that horses are much bigger in real life, and being so far off the ground can be a little scary! Will Frances be brave enough to ride Snowball all by herself, or will it be too different from what she’s imagined? Jennifer K. Mann’s exuberant story encourages readers to get back in the saddle and reminds them that sometimes reality doesn’t match our expectations—but usually the real thing is better!Mann captures the flavor of stable life as she infuses the narrative with well-chosen details. . . . Readers will eagerly saddle up for this enchanting ride.
—Kirkus Reviews

The gently humorous and emotionally tactful plot packs in helpful horse-care information that’s visually supported by cartoonish mixed-media illustrations. . . . it will better equip eager hippophiles anticipating their own riding lessons.
—Booklist

This substantial picture book augments traditional first-person narration with cartoon panels and speech balloons, the emotional thrust ably advanced by Mann’s (The Camping Trip, rev. 5/20) evocative illustrations, reminiscent of crayon drawings. . . . Her experience will ring true not just with equestrians but also with any child who’s ever ventured out of their comfort zone and rode bravely on.
—The Horn BookJennifer K. Mann used to be an architect before turning to children’s books full-time. She is the creator of The Camping Trip, Josie’s Lost Tooth, Sam and Jump, Two Speckled Eggs, and I Will Never Get a Star on Mrs. Benson’s Blackboard. She lives on an island near Seattle with her husband, children, cats, dogs, and chickens.