Product Description

A poignant and moving retelling of Anna Sewell's classic novel, which follows the story of Black Beauty - the brave and noble horse that overcomes danger and cruelty to eventually find a loving home. It is gorgeously illustrated by Alan Marks. Young readers will treasure this beautiful gift edition, which is published in hardback with a ribbon marker. The "Usborne Young Reading" series is designed to encourage independent reading and covers a range of subject matter, introducing children's classics, fairytales and a diverse range of narrative non-fiction.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18522 in Books
• Published on: 2005-11-25
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 64 pages

Customer Reviews

Not for the very young
This book did for horses what Charles Dickens managed for workhouses, boarding schools and several other of the less laudable Victorian institutions. Like Dickens, it has survived the test of time and remains on most “Children's Classic” lists. Although there are plenty of horsy adventures for the hero, Sewell manages to avoid almost all of the traps of anthropomorphism and sickening sentimentality that infest most kids' books that touch upon matters equine. This book should however come with a warning: it can be quite brutal, as was the Victorian's treatment of working horses and, when I first read it as a child of six I found it harrowing and desperately upsetting (although it does have a reasonably happy ending). At 44, I still can't read it without a tear and a lumpy throat so this is probably not one for the nursery bookshelf; however, it remains on my list of essential reading for children. My eight-year-old son is studying Victorian history as his school project and has put down Harry Potter in favour of this; trying to prevent my six-year-old, horse-mad daughter from picking it up may prove problematical.

A First Reading Book For Young Children
I must admit after reading the first two reviews of this edition of Black Beauty I was expecting a longer version of the book. This is a very highly abridged version of the story only really suitable for children who have just learnt to read very simple stories independently. The photo does not show it says 'Usborne Young Reading' whereas on the actual book this is prominent on the front cover above 'Black Beauty'. It's 64 pages long and very heavy on illustrations with each page having approximately 30 words per page (similar editions to the reading books my 6 year old brings home from school).

No mention of fires or anything in depth or troubling is mentioned. It's a very santised, emotionless version of the classic story. It's more like 'there once was a horse and these were it's owners'.

Excellent if you just want an introduction to the basic story of Black Beauty with some lovely illustrations. I would think anyone over 6/7 would be too old for this edition though.

good introduction to Black Beauty
I loved reading Black Beauty when I was young, although I did find it harrowing. So lately when I saw a beautifully illustrated unabridged version I had to stop myself buying it for my 5 year old as I know it would be too much for her, and I wanted her love the story like I did.
A friend of mine sent my daughter this abridged version. I thought she mightn't like it as there are no fairies, little girls, ballerinas or princes.
Just goes to show how wrong we can be. She really really enjoys having it read to her. I have lost count of the times we've read it. It is sanitised compared to the long version, but still manages to convey the barbarity of the treatment of horses, cruelty, death and ultimately a happy ending. It is not the usual sugar coated story I am so used to reading to my daughter. Even tho it is so abridged, I still sometimes nearly shed a tear while I am reading it. It's not the book I fell in love with all those years ago, but it's a good stepping stone towards the full story.