About The Book:
A Horse Named Sky is a gripping animal survival story about family, courage, trust, leadership, and loyalty. Horse Named Sky is the perfect book for a third-seventh grade classrooms looking for a fast pace, animal themed story. The story is impeccably researched and illustrated in black-and-white throughout and a map where readers can follow along.
Guide Details:
A Horse Named Sky Educator Guide is written by Colleen Carroll, literacy educator, content creator, and author of the How Artists See series (Abbeville Kids). Learn more about Colleen at www.colleencarroll.us.
Book Talk & Discussion Questions
Like his mustang ancestors before him, Sky was born to run. When a lack of water threatens his family’s survival, Sky decides to leave for the good of the band. Alone in the mountains, Sky encounters drought, loneliness, and homesickness, until he is captured to run for the Pony Express.
He tries to understand his human captors, some kind and some cruel, but the pull of home leads him to make a daring escape. Will Sky reunite with his family and find the Alone Mountain where his band can live in peace?
Sample Discussion Questions:
- Sky’s first memory is the sound of water. The wild horses refer to their place of birth as their “home waters.” Discuss the importance of water in the story. Discuss what you think Sky’s mother means when she tells him, “I am your first water” (p. 8).
- Discuss how the horses refer to the other animals in their environment, using names such as scamper, howler, and claw beast. Why do you think they have named them in this way? Why do you think the horses are named for weather and the elements, such as Sky, Rain, Storm, and Thunder. How is Sky’s name a fitting one for him? How is Storm’s personality like her name?
- Early in the story, young Sky has many self-doubts. Discuss examples in the book when Sky has to face his fears. How is leaving the thirsty band an act of courage and love (p. 38)? How does Storm teach Sky to be brave and determined? Why does the band make Sky their leader at the end of the story?
- Discuss Sky’s reaction to witnessing a human chop down a piñon tree (pp. 25–26). How does this event foreshadow the dangers that lie ahead for Sky? Sky considers bees: “Their rule about flowers must be the same as our rule about water— take what you need and move on” (p. 42). Based on their actions, particularly in the mines, do you think the humans have similar rules?
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Extension Activities
The extension activies cover topics from animals from the Sierra Nevade mountains, the Pony Express and creative writing.
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