Follow the numbered order
Begin with Elska, an Icelandic horse whose life changes when she bonds with a young girl.
Reading order
How to Read the Horse Diaries Books
The books have an official numbered order, but every volume follows a different horse in a different historical setting. Start with Elska for publication order, or choose a horse breed or period that interests your child without losing a continuing plot.
Jingle Bells is longer and labeled a Special Edition, while Cinders crosses over with Dog Diaries. Both remain official numbered Horse Diaries volumes.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
The historical settings bring real danger: war and displacement, slavery, fire, harsh work, animal injury, separation, neglect, racing, bullfighting, and the possibility of human or animal death. The horse narrators keep the stories hopeful, but sensitive animal lovers may find some scenes upsetting.
Black-and-white illustrations and historical material help readers understand each breed, place, and period. Because the stories stand alone, parents can preview or skip a setting that feels too intense.
Where to start
Where Should My Child Start?
Choose a historical setting
Try Maestoso Petra for World War II, Luna for a nineteenth-century circus, or Cinders for the Great Chicago Fire.
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$759
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 7–11 · 2009
Elska
By Catherine Hapka, Ruth Sanderson (Illustrator)
A filly's peaceful life is upended by a powerful neighbor's interest.
144 pages· 8,323 words· Est. 1 hour read
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
In reading order
Horse Diaries Series
16 books · Published 2009–2019
#1
Sale price
$759
Elska
Chapter Book · Ages 7–11 · 2009
A filly's peaceful life is upended by a powerful neighbor's interest.
#2
Sale price
$759
Bell's Star
Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2009
A young horse named Star helps a runaway slave girl named Eliza escape to Canada
#3
Sale price
$759
Koda
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2009
A horse's journey on the Oregon Trail reveals life's true values.
#5
Sale price
$759
Golden Sun
Chapter Book · Ages 7–11 · 2010
A horse's journey reveals its true calling when a friend's life hangs in the balance.
#6
Sale price
$759
Yatimah
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2011
A filly's peaceful life shatters when her brother is stolen, revealing her true destiny.
#7
Sale price
$759
Risky Chance
Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2011
A young Thoroughbred horse's life is forever changed when he is claimed by a new owner, a young girl and her father, a former jockey, who help him recover from his injuries and find a new purpose in life.
#8
Sale price
$759
Black Cloud
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2012
A mustang colt's freedom is threatened by human intrusion, altering his wild life forever.
#9
Sale price
$759
Tennessee Rose
Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2012
A horse questions freedom and slavery as the Civil War looms.
#10
Sale price
$759
Darcy
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2013
A pony's newfound skill could alter her family's fate in 1917 Ireland.
#13
Sale price
$759
Cinders
Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2016
A horse recounts her life from her idyllic childhood on a farm to her work as a fire horse in Chicago during the Great Fire of 1871
Maestoso Petra
Chapter Book · 2010
No book description provided.
Jingle Bells
Chapter Book · 2014
Sale price
$759
Luna
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2015
A circus visit changes a mare's quiet life forever.
Sale price
$759
Calvino
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2017
A stallion's skills are tested in a deadly bullfight in 16th-century Spain.
Sale price
$759
Lily
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2018
A pony faces fierce competition amidst wartime challenges.
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Horse Diaries series?
There are 16 books in the Horse Diaries series. It began with Elska in 2009, and the newest book, Penny, was published in 2019.
What order should you read the Horse Diaries books in?
Start with Elska and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #16.
What ages are the Horse Diaries books best for?
The series is best for ages 7–12, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
The people
The Creatives Behind the Books
The people who bring Horse Diaries to life.
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