Review by Booklist Review
In his fifth entry in the I Like to Read series, Long offers an amusing way for early readers to practice their reading skills while learning about skateboard safety. Horse is proud of his new board and wants to show Buggy all the tricks he (thinks) he can perform. Along the way, Buggy offers suggestions as to how Horse can practice without getting hurt. However, cocky Horse continues upping the difficulty of his tricks even though he has scraped his "hands" and knees and nose. Solid orange, gold, and mustard-colored backgrounds allow the antics of energetic Horse to stand out. Lots of movement in the colorful pictures will keep children engaged in the tale while agreeing with wise Buggy and learning along with Horse. Though Buggy panics at the story's conclusion, fearing Horse is more reckless than ever, it appears the enthusiastic skateboarder has learned a few things. Children will appreciate the cautionary tale as they witness two distinctly different friends and their contrasting personalities.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3--Horse and Buggy are friends who share many adventures. In this story, Horse tries to go skateboarding without the right gear. When Horse shows off his skateboard, Buggy asks right away if he has a helmet. Horse does, but he doesn't like it. "It hurts my head." Buggy explains that he can adjust it, which Horse does. Then, he's off! As Horse shows Buggy some moves on the skateboard, he falls and hurts his hands; Buggy gives him gloves. Horse goes all out doing twists and turns, and each time he falls, Buggy suggests he adds another piece of protective gear. Finally, Horse heads to the pool to rest and heal his banged-up body. This delightful and humorous story shows unlikely best friends working together as a team. Beginning readers will have fun following Horse around several spreads in active illustrations that pair well with the friends' conversation. Horse and Buggy, with their white, black, and gray colors, stand out against the orange and yellow backgrounds. VERDICT A great addition to any children's library collection.--Annmarie Braithwaite
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A skateboarding creature learns to practice a challenging skill by tackling the easy steps first. "Buggy," the cautious horsefly who befriended the cavalier main character in earlier books, watches, with two long-lashed, bulging eyes and downturned mouth, as Horse tries tricky skateboarding maneuvers and repeatedly falls and hurts himself. Each time, Buggy worriedly suggests a safety measure: a properly adjusted helmet, gloves, knee pads, etc. Horse accepts all suggestions, each time confidently claiming "I am REALLY ready" and "I will not get hurt" but always managing to fall next on an unprotected anatomical area. Then Horse gets a rope and wraps every part in whole-body padding. Alas, that doesn't work, either: An especially twisty move undoes it all. Horse finally appropriates Buggy's original sensible idea--learn easy tricks first, then try more difficult ones--before announcing a final idea: "TO THE POOL!" Buggy is extra alarmed until, on the final page, we see Horse not skating in an empty concrete basin but soaking a very bruised body in blue water. The words are manageable; tension is maintained without too much predictability; pratfalls produce laughs. The illustrations are cartoon-style against orange and mustard-yellow fields, with lots of crashes ("bonk," "whoop," "wham") emphasized by exaggerated facial expressions registering Horse's excitement, pain, and frustration. Young fans of action and dramatic upsets will enjoy this romp while possibly learning a bit of caution. (Easy reader. 5-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
