Horse & Buggy on Wheels!

by Ethan Long

Overview

Best friends Horse & Buggy’s skateboarding shenanigans will have early readers rolling with laughter in this story from Geisel medalist Ethan Long!

“Look, Buggy! I have a skateboard.”

“Do you have a helmet, too?”

Horse is ready to try some BIG skateboard tricks . . . and his best friend Buggy has some tricks of his own on how Horse can avoid getting hurt. From tightening helmet straps to bandaging bruised butts, there’s no such thing as too much fun with this dynamic duo—especially because they’re playing it safe. Ethan Long’s expressive, slapstick-style art brings the laugh-out-loud story to life in this early reader that really sticks the landing.

Don't miss this hilarious duo's other adventures in Dance, Dance, Dance!, Horse & Buggy Paint It Out!, Horse & Buggy Plant a Seed, and Horse & Buggy on Ice.

This book has been officially leveled by using the F&P Text Level Gradient(TM) Leveling System at level E.

The award-winning I Like to Read® series focuses on guided reading levels A through G, based upon Fountas and Pinnell standards.

Acclaimed author-illustrators—including winners of Caldecott, Theodor Seuss Geisel, and Coretta Scott King honors—create original, high quality illustrations that support comprehension of simple text and are fun for kids to read with parents, teachers, or on their own.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823460175
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	04/29/2025
Series:	I Like to Read Series
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Ethan Long is an artist and animator who has written and illustrated dozens of children's books. His accolades include a Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal for Up, Tall, and High! and a daytime Emmy nomination for Tasty Time with Ze Frank.

Editorial Reviews

"Beginning readers will have fun following Horse around several spreads in active illustrations that pair well with the friends’ conversation. . . A great ­addition to any children’s library ­collection "—School Library Journal

"Lots of movement in the colorful pictures, which include a few onomatopoeic words, will keep children engaged in the tale while agreeing with wise Buggy and learning along with Horse. . . Children will appreciate the cautionary tale as they witness two distinctly different friends and their contrasting personalities."—Booklist

"Young fans of action and dramatic upsets will enjoy this romp while possibly learning a bit of caution." —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

01/01/2024

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

School Library Journal

2023-10-07
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)

Kirkus Reviews