Fritz and the Beautiful Horses (Sandpiper Books)

I've been reading this book since before I can even remember. I had a copy of it as a child and I loved it even then. The illustrations are so beautiful and I just love looking at all those ponies! The details are phenomenally done - down to the tiny, individual stars on a background horse's saddle blanket. I introduced this book to my son when he was 2 and it became an instant favorite. He's had his copy for 2 years now and never tires of the story. Indeed, it teaches that you may not be pretty to look at, but you can still be kind and dependable and help people out. I love that it has an actual point - so many children's books these days don't seem to have any kind of message to them. And I will never, ever get tired of those amazing illustrations.

A heartwarming story of a misfit pony who proves the proverb to be true: "Beauty is only skin deep." One falls in love with this dear little pony, his sorrows and his gentle ways. As the author describes him, "Fritz was very gentle and kind. He was sure-footed and always willing to work." His physical appearance of short legs and tangled mane did not win him an invitation to live with the other gorgeous horses in the beautiful walled city. He lived outside of it and alone. The text is perfect. The illustrations are unique in their intricacy. The author excels in variegated designs of the clothing of the characters, especially the children in the story. I won't give away the ending, but it is heart-winning and satisfying. Jan Brett has here created the perfect children's book, with love at its heart.

Great baby shower gift! Beautiful book with lovely drawings and a warm message. Great for any horse-girls or boys!

The artwork does full justice to the character's personalities. The story rings true and sweet. It is aimed at toddlers, but will appeal to all age groups.

My daughter is horse obsessed and we first picked this book up at the library. She was always so sad to see it go when we dropped it off so we bought it as a gift to her. It's such a cute story about a strong and dependable pony. It's her favorite book and she names her toys and stuffies after Fritz now. Would highly recommend.

This is a great "ugly ducking" esque story. It was my favorite book growing up and I'm so happy it's still in print! I've purchased a handful of copies in the last year or so to replace my worn childhood copy and for friends. The pictures are incredibly detailed and stunning. The story isn't too long, but tells a whole story which is hard to find in some children books. It teaches to think outside the box and to overcome obstacles- just what we want to show our children!

This is a good little story that teaches that a beautiful outside doesn't always mean there is beauty on the inside, and beauty on the inside is most valuable

I adored this book as a child! I bought some recently as gifts and was really excited to give them. The hardback edition would be preferable, but the paperback edition is nice enough. The story has a nice message, but my favorite part (now, and as a child) is the illustrations. Like many little girls, I loved horses. The horses in this book are drawn beautifully and I really enjoyed admiring the details such as their manes and the designs in the horse tack. I detect some Scandinavian influence perhaps? Whatever it is I really loved the illustrations as a child and hope that the children I bought these copies for also find joy in them.

The illustrations are great, the story is pretty good, but the writing could use some work.

Although we have most of Jan Brett's books in our personal library, I had never seen Fritz and the Beautiful Horses. I decided to order it for my 3 year old for Christmas this year, because he has a real love for horses. I'm glad I did. It's a gentle, charming story, just right for a child aged 3-5, and like all of Jan Brett's books, the illustrations are lovely and detailed. The story is not too hard for a little person to understand: Fritz the pony is not beautiful, so he is not allowed inside the walled city, which is known for its beautiful horses. One day the bridge leading up to the city gate cracks, and a group of children who were out for a ride are stranded. Their finicky mounts refuse to go down into the river to cross over to the city. So Fritz, who is brave and hardworking, carries the children to safety, and is ever after allowed a place of honor in the walled city. Not only is it a fun story, but within it lies a good lesson, that appearances can be deceiving.

Nous avons une petite collection de livres en anglais à la maison et celui-ci est l'un des préférés de mes enfants. L'histoire est simple et belle, et les dessins sont originaux.

Lovely hardcover with beautiful illustrations. Perfect for children over 6 who have started reading by themselves. Delivered on time and well packaged. Thank you

Lovely book with beautiful pictures and a thoughful message. My children love this book at story time.