Back of Book:
Zippy Chippy is descended from the leading legends of horse racing. He is destined for greatness and glory.
But . . . when the starting bell rings, it’s anybody’s guess what Zippy will do. Will Zippy go for a gentle trot around the track or stop and smell the roses? Or, perhaps, never even leave the starting gate?!
With mischief in his makeup, he’s known to stick his tongue out at people and chew up the hats of passersby. And he’s always trying to break out of his stall. What’s an owner to do? Try and try again! After all, he believes in Zippy–and, besides, the horse is now a part of the family. But as Zippy’s losses mount, a funny thing happens. People start to take notice of the hapless, cupcake-eating horse. Could it be that they’re betting on Zippy to win?
My Review:
I received a copy of this picture book from author Artie Bennett in exchange for an honest review.
“The True Story of Zippy Chippy: The Little Horse That Couldn’t” by Artie Bennett is a fantastic nonfiction story about how one horse’s perseverance made him famous.
Zippy Chippy was a racehorse, descended from legends who ran like the wind. Sadly, Zippy did not have the same speed or even the desire to run. Instead, Zippy would stop in the middle of a race to sniff the air, or simply not move at all. Zippy’s owner Felix tried everything he could to make the stubborn horse a winner. As time went on, Felix began to realize that what made Zippy Chippy popular wasn’t his ability to win races, but his fun personality and attitude. Even when he didn’t win, people began to cheer for the cupcake eating horse. Zippy Chippy would eventually retire without wins and medals, but with the love of the people. I love that this story has an important message of enjoying things even if you do not always win. The illustrations by Dave Szalay are filled with movement and detail. He showed readers Zippy’s personality in a very realistic way. The back of the book has more information about the famous horse and the people who loved him. This is a great nonfiction story with a growth mindset tie in that will be an instant favorite with readers of all ages.
Ages 5 and up
40 Pages
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