Wild Horse Scientists by Kay Frydenborg - ESSENTIAL

Frydenborg, Kay Wild Horse Scientists, 76 p.  Houghton Mifflin, 2012.  $19.  Content: G.  NONFICTION.  

Most girls of my generation have probably read one or more of the Misty of Chincoteague books.  Well, there is a lot more to the story than those few novels.  Frydenborg delves into the history of the horses and the modern problems that they face – these particular horses being the inhabits of Assateague, Chincoteague’s neighbor.  The big questions for these and for all wild horses, is how to maintain the herds at sizes that will be in harmony with their ranges – allowing just enough breeding to replenish the herds, without overburdening them to the point where horses needed to be penned and sold – perhaps to dog food makers.  Interestingly, just yesterday I read an article about the wild mustangs of the western ranges – and how scientists are using the discoveries from Assateague to apply to these populations also.  Fascinating.  

EL, MS – ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher