Book Review of A Horse Named Sunrise
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The Children’s Book Review
A Horse Named Sunrise
Written and illustrated by Karen Storer
Ages: 4-6 | 35 Pages
Publisher: eBooks2go (2026) | ISBN: 978-1545763766
What to Expect: Equine therapy, kindness, healing, joy, learning together.
Based on the author’s real-life experience volunteering with therapy horses and the gentle horses she met in that work, A Horse Named Sunrise is a powerful and uplifting story about how animals can bring joy and healing through their patience and quiet presence.
Sunrise loves her life in Norway, helping Ola the farmer with his chores. She loves the beautiful countryside around her, and she loves her people—the way they smell, the way they pet her soft coat, and the yummy treats they bring her. Most of all, she loves how happy she makes them!
Then, one day, Ola brings her some news—there is a little girl a long way away, in America, who really needs some of the joy Sunrise brings to people. Francesca can’t walk, and Ola hopes that by traveling to America, Sunrise can help her feel happy again. At first, Francesa is frightened of Sunrise, and Sunrise is dismayed—he’s never frightened anyone before! But with quiet patience and kindness, Sunrise earns Francesca’s trust, and the day he brings a smile to her face is one of his proudest ever!
Sunrise is a loving and joyful main character whose positive outlook never wavers, even in the face of unexpected changes and setbacks. The vibrant digital artwork places Sunrise against a backdrop of peaceful mountains, fields, farms, and forests, evoking the magic of nature for readers. The text is delivered through short sentences, interspersing dialogue from the human characters with Sunrise’s inner thoughts, helping readers share her joy directly.
Whether A Horse Named Sunrise is used to launch discussions of equine therapy or simply read for the pleasure of the story, this picture book is perfect for readers who share Sunrise’s joy in helping and healing others.
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About the Author
Karen Storer, RN, MBA, is a nurse and equine therapy volunteer whose work with children and therapy horses inspired A Horse Named Sunrise. She lives in the Chicago area with her husband and continues to write stories that celebrate kindness, courage, and connection. Karen dedicates this book with love to her children.
For more information, visit https://karen-storer.author-pages.com/.
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored*, non-biased review of A Horse Named Sunrise. Learn more about getting a book review …
