The Ghost Horses of Chicago

Their hooves hit the ground. Their tails swish in the morning air. But are these horses real? According to local lore, ghost horses haunt the edge of a forest near Chicago, Illinois. Many have claimed to see them, but few have offered proof. In this book, you’ll discover the full story of Chicago’s ghost horses… if you dare.

Gr 2-4–Most kids love animals and ghost stories, so this well-written series for younger students about four-legged hauntings is a great combination. Readers get some tantalizing, not-too-scary thrills from the tales and learn interesting and worthwhile facts about famous locales. Each slim volume, written with short readable sentences, sets up its story with information about the historical and geographic setting including location, the ghost’s origins, description, sightings, and witnesses. The handsomely designed series includes vivid display headings, high-quality photos, illustrations, engravings, and historical images to amplify the stories’ impact. Additionally, text is set in stark white type against black backgrounds and appear in colored-framed boxes against black to heighten the spookiness factor. Unfamiliar vocabulary is set in yellow type and new words are defined in the glossary (with no pronunciation guides) and, occasionally, in context. Other back matter features include a works consulted list, “Find Out More” (a short bibliography of books and websites), and an index. VERDICT Recommended for public and school collections. This will meet the demand of readers who appreciate ghost stories, and will serve striving readers. Ask students which stories they most believe and/or which seem most plausible, and why.--April 1, 2023, School Library Journal