Book Review and Giveaway: Lucky Foot Stable Series (Books 1-3)
Lady’s Big Surprise (Book 1 in The Lucky Foot Stable Series)
Star of Wonder (Book 2 in The Lucky Foot Stable Series)
A Star Discovered (Book 3 in the Lucky Foot Stables Series)
The award winning Lucky Foot Stable series is a wholesome set of books appealing to girls, ages 8-12. Mary and Jody are epic friends bonded together by their love of horses. Their life at the “Lucky Foot Stable” is always full of adventure.
As a parent I want my children to have positive role models like the characters in these books. Mary and Jody are likable characters who complement each other despite differences in personality. Where one is weak, the other is strong. As friends they don’t always agree but they always remain faithful to each other. Mary and Jody are full of ideas, good and sometimes bad. In their excitement they don’t always make the best decisions. But the girls are quick to admit their mistakes and apologize if they have done something wrong. Mary and Jody prove that they are hard workers with a “can do” attitude. They work diligently to achieve their goals. Another element of the stories that I like is the mentoring relationship between the girls and Willie who is the old hired hand on the farm. The girls learn that despite his age and guarded demeanor, Willie has valuable life experience. Willie learns a few lessons from the girls as well.
Whether or not you are a horse lover you will enjoy reading about life on the farm. Each book includes a glossary of horse terms to help your understanding. The author, JoAnn S. Dawson, is remarkable woman who writes from her own experience as the owner of Fairwinds Farm and Bed & Breakfast in Maryland where she and her husband offer riding lessons, trail rides and a summer camp for children.
Lady’s Big Surprise
The first in the Lucky Foot Stable series follows best friends Mary and Jody on an amazing adventure, one that will take them to a cow funeral, to the mysterious Secret Place and, most incredibly, to their first horse show with their favorite ponies, Lady and Gypsy.
Star of Wonder
Nothing could have been a better Christmas present than the birth of Lady’s foal, Star of Wonder. But with a scary sleepover, the discovery of someone’s secret past, a daring escape (and rescue) and the terrible news of where Star of Wonder has disappeared to, the adventure is just beginning for best friends Mary and Jody in the second book in The Lucky Foot Stable series.
A Star Discovered
Life at the Lucky Foot Stables has been going smoothly for epic friends Mary and Jody. They are working hard to get Lady’s foal, Star of Wonder ready for his yearling classes and his first horse show. All of this suddenly changes when a mysterious man shows up and says that he is going to take Star away. And the worst part is: he might have the right to do it! (Sourcebooks News Release)
One lucky reader will win a set of books! (Books 1-3) Enter by commenting with the name of your favorite children’s book or series written for 8-12 year olds. I would also love to hear “why” it is your favorite. The giveaway will end at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 21st. I will notify the winner via e-mail.
Thank you to everyone who entered the Lucky Foot Stables book giveaway. Comments are now closed. Please visit my other book giveaways that are part of the Growing Readers series.
March 17th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Well, I think my favorite children’s books currently are the Magic Treehouse books. Though I never read them, they have my kids engaged almost daily. Plus, I can get them really cheap when our local Scholastic Warehouse has its bi-annual sales.
March 18th, 2008 at 9:13 am
There are so many but I know that Hannah’s favorite series is the American Girl book series. Each character has her own series and they focus on values, history and all have positive messages. I love that at the end of each book there is a section that has pictures and information about things that were relevant to the time period. They are not expensive books and can be found most everywhere.
My personal favorite is the Chronicles of Narnia series. I love the adventures, the rich characters and the plots. They are just as fun for the kids as they are for the adults.
March 18th, 2008 at 9:44 am
5thgrader loves the Brandon Mull books: Fablehaven. She never liked Harry Potter books, she thought they were too ‘boyish’? Fablehaven is fantasy but ‘girly’ enough–go figure? She also loves books by Avi.
March 18th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
As a child I was fascinated by the Little House books. I actually learned about how harsh the pioneer lifestyle was. The TV show was a poor imitation!
March 18th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I like the american girls series. They have grown to be a pretty big, commercial company these days but they still seem to keep the characters focussed on values, etc.
nifferjeno at gmail dot com
March 18th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
My daughter’s favorite is probably the Magic Treehouse series, although lately she’s gotten into the early Harry Potter books and some Judy Blume.
She’ll read darn near anything, though. Next week it could be different.
March 18th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I was always a fan of the Baby Sitters Club! My kids are not quite to the age of reading books like this, but I’d love to put them away, I know they would love these in a few years! Thanks!
March 18th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Hello, This sounds like a wonderful book series. Many young girls are horse lovers. I have seen this at camp. Please enter me in your book drawing. Thanks,Cindi
March 18th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
I liked Tom Sawyer, Tom was so funny.
March 18th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
I love the babysitters club. great giveaway, thanks!
March 18th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
oops, forgot to add the ‘why’. cuz i read them when i was a kid!
March 18th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Nancy Drew! How could a girl go wrong with a smart, brunette role model!
March 19th, 2008 at 2:43 am
I loved a book called Mandy…about a orphan girl who fashions a retreat for herself in an abandoned cottage. I still have the book on my shelves. What a treasure.
March 19th, 2008 at 7:16 am
My favorite childhood book was the Penguin that hated the cold. My daughters favorite series is the magic tree house series, & the boxcar children
March 19th, 2008 at 8:42 am
[...] Where: Kristen McLane [...]
March 19th, 2008 at 9:33 am
My two older daughters loved the Babysitters Club, and I did too. They were entertaining with good wholesome reading.
March 19th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
The Boxcar children is a great series.
March 19th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
For me it was a toss up between Nancy Drew (I loved that a girl could be both adventurous and feminine at the same time; I liked wearing dresses, finding bugs, playing house, and climbing trees all on the same day) and the Babysitters Club (I was attached to the characters, who could be role-models, and just thought the books were fun!). As my kids aren’t that old yet, I’m not sure about today’s books targeted to that age range. Those were my favorites when I was a kid!
March 19th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
I was a huge Babysitters Club fan! This would be perfect for my niece! Thanks!
March 19th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Abbie is CRAZY about horses…she would love these.
March 20th, 2008 at 12:44 am
my girls love horses and would enjoy reading these books! we like Boxcar Children and A to Z Mysteries, because my children like to read mysteries. they like trying to figure out “who dun it”
March 20th, 2008 at 11:15 am
DD will love reading these books.
March 20th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I read Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, I like mystery stories
March 20th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
My favorite childhood book was Little Women. I loved the stories of the sisters and the sense of family and romance in the book! Thanks!