• Age: 8 to 12
• Grade: 3 to 7

Why do horses let people ride them? What did horses look like millions of years ago? Can horses really sleep standing up? Veteran children's author Elizabeth MacLeod answers these and dozens of other horsey questions in this ultimate companion book for young horse lovers. Like Why Do Dogs Have Wet Noses and Why Do Cats Have Whiskers?, the question-and-answer format makes this book perfect both for browsing and for school-project research. Kids don't need to own or ride a horse to love this book, as it is not about riding but instead showcases the horse as a fascinating animal.

Humans and horses have shared a long history together and this book covers it all: • When Horses Flew: famous horses, prehistoric horses, legendary horses, horse lore and facts • Pintos, Percherons and Palominos: breeds, ponies vs. horses, wild horses, horses around the world, weird horses • The Mane Tale: the many quirks of horse bodies and behavior • Straight from the Horse's Mouth: horse language, horse expressions, hero horses, horse whisperers

Liz is one nosy author, which is why she loves writing non-fiction. She’s very curious about why people do what they do, and likes sharing with kids the amazing facts and secrets that she uncovers.As a kid in Thornhill, Ontario, the idea of being a writer never crossed Liz’s mind—she figured most authors were already dead and they definitely weren’t Canadian. Besides, it was science that interested Liz.But writing was already part of Liz’s life. After dinner on school nights, Liz and her two brothers would trudge up to their rooms, close their doors and start to do their homework—or so their parents thought. A few minutes later, a piece of paper would come sliding under Liz’s door. One of her brothers had drawn a picture, usually of some weird creature.Liz really couldn’t draw (still can’t!), so the only way she could respond was to write a short story, often about a mad scientist or space alien. She would slip the story under her brother’s door and—well, not a lot of homework got done.At university, Liz studied sciences—there was hardly any writing involved at all. But after university, she was hired as an editor at OWL magazine, where she could combine writing and her love of science. But it wasn’t long before Liz had a goal: to write a book. Her first one was about lions and since then she’s written more than fifty others.Royal Murder: The Deadly Intrigue of Ten Sovereigns (2008) is one of her favourite books because royalty has always fascinated Liz. She loved going behind the scenes with monarchs from Cleopatra to Dracula to find out just what they would do to hold onto power or protect their families.Bones Never Lie: How Forensics Helps Solve History’s Mysteries (2013) was the winner of numerous awards, including the Crime Writers of Canada 2014 Arthur Ellis Award in the Juvenile/YA category. Liz’s latest book with Annick Press, Galloping Through History: Incredible True Horse Stories (Spring 2015), combines, once again, her outstanding storytelling skills with her passion for history. This time her love of animals also shines through as she recounts the stories of six horses that changed the way humans live, travel, fight, work, and play.Liz lives in Toronto with her husband, Paul, and their cat Cosimo. While she writes, he is usually sprawled across her desk—often right on the book she needs for research!

Elizabeth MacLeod's profile page

• Short-listed, Lane Anderson Award, Fitzhenry Family Foundation
• Winner, Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre

Why Do Horses Have Manes?