Just for Elephants. Written and photographed by Carol Buckley. Tilbury House, Publishers, 2006. 32 pages. Tells the true story of Shirley, an elephant who was taken from her zoo to the Elephant Sanctuary, including the details of her trip there, her first days there, and her reunion with an elephant from the circus in which she had been a member. Nonfiction photo-essay. Interest level: Grades 3-6.

Where Horses Run Free: A Dream for the American Mustang. Written by Joy Cowley. Illustrated by Layne Johnson. Boyds Mills Press, 2003. 32 pages. When a cowboy comes across a penned up herd of wild horses, he vows to find a place where the horses can run free the way they once did before ranchers took over the land. Movingly tells the true story of Dayton O. Hyde, founder of the Institute of Range and the American Mustang and the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary in South Dakota. Nonfiction picture book. KIND Children's Honor Book. Interest level: Gr. 1-6.

Background: Cattle ranchers lease government owned grazing land from the Bureau of Land Management for meager fees. Because the ranchers see wild horses as taking food from cattle, the BLM rounds the horses up and pens them until they are adopted or sold for slaughter. Currently there are three bills pending that would end horse slaughter. Visit the Stop Horse Slaughter Web site to learn more and to take action.

Wild horses: Black Hills Sanctuary. Written by Cris Peterson. Photographs by Alvis Upitis. Boyds Mills Press, 2003. 32 pages. Tells the story of one man's determination to create a sanctuary for wild horses in the Black Hills in South Dakota, where these powerful animals could have the chance to roam free and live in peace and dignity. ASPCA Henry Bergh Humane Heroes Honor. Nonfiction photo essay. Interest level: Gr. 3-8.

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"A horse is poetry in motion."  ~ Author Unknown

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