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Quick answer: If your child loves Black Beauty, try Walter Farley's The Black Stallion, then Misty of Chincoteague, National Velvet, King of the Wind and My Friend Flicka. All are classic horse stories about loyalty, courage and the bond between children and horses.
Anna Sewell's 1877 novel is narrated by a horse, Black Beauty, who describes his life from a happy colt to a cab horse and his experiences with kind and cruel owners. It was written to encourage kindness to animals. The books below offer similar horse tales and animal classics.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Black Stallion | Walter Farley | Ages 8-12 | horse and boy |
| Misty of Chincoteague | Marguerite Henry | Ages 8-12 | wild ponies |
| King of the Wind | Marguerite Henry | Ages 9-13 | Arabian stallion |
| National Velvet | Enid Bagnold | Ages 10+ | steeplechase dream |
| My Friend Flicka | Mary O'Hara | Ages 10+ | ranch and a filly |
| Old Yeller | Fred Gipson | 10–14 | frontier classics |
| Lassie Come-Home | Eric Knight | Ages 8-12 | long journey home |
| Charlotte's Web | E. B. White | Ages 6-12 | classic friendship |
| The Call of the Wild | Jack London | 12 and up | stronger readers |
| White Fang | Jack London | All ages | wolf-dog |
| The Yearling | Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings | 12 and up | older readers |
| Where the Red Fern Grows | Wilson Rawls | 10–14 | more Wilson Rawls |
| Because of Winn-Dixie | Kate DiCamillo | Ages 8-12 | a dog and a town |
| Shiloh | Phyllis Reynolds Naylor | 9–12 | dog lovers |
| Sounder | William H. Armstrong | 10–14 | emotional classics |
1. The Black Stallion by Walter Farley
A boy and a wild horse are shipwrecked on an island and become racing champions. Classic and exciting.
Best for: horse and boy.
2. Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
Two children set out to buy a wild pony. Warm and gentle.
Best for: wild ponies.
3. King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry
The story of a horse who founded a great bloodline. Dramatic and moving.
Best for: Arabian stallion.
4. National Velvet by Enid Bagnold
A girl trains a horse for the Grand National. Spirited and classic.
Best for: steeplechase dream.
5. My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara
A boy raises a wild filly on a Wyoming ranch. Warm and honest.
Best for: ranch and a filly.
6. Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
A boy and a stray dog protect a Texas family in the 1860s. A classic with a famously sad ending.
Best for: frontier classics.
7. Lassie Come-Home by Eric Knight
A collie travels across Britain to return to her boy. Classic and moving.
Best for: long journey home.
8. Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
A spider saves a pig by weaving words. A timeless story of loyalty.
Best for: classic friendship.
9. The Call of the Wild by Jack London
A sled dog adapts to the brutal Yukon. A classic of survival and instinct.
Best for: stronger readers.
10. White Fang by Jack London
A wolf-dog moves from the wild to civilisation. Rough and moving.
Best for: wolf-dog.
11. The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
A boy adopts an orphaned fawn on a Florida farm. A longer classic with real depth.
Best for: older readers.
12. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
A boy saves money for two coonhounds in the Ozarks. Rawls's best-known book is a moving story of love for dogs.
Best for: more Wilson Rawls.
13. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
A girl and a stray dog bring people together. Gentle and funny.
Best for: a dog and a town.
14. Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Marty finds an abused beagle and hides him from his owner. A gentle, moral story about doing right.
Best for: dog lovers.
15. Sounder by William H. Armstrong
A Black sharecropping family struggles in the South, with a loyal dog at the center. Short and serious.
Best for: emotional classics.
How to Choose
For more Sewell there is no sequel, but other classics follow its spirit. For horse stories choose The Black Stallion, Misty of Chincoteague or National Velvet. For animal friendships pick Lassie Come-Home, Old Yeller or Shiloh. For wilderness tales read The Call of the Wild or White Fang. Black Beauty has sad moments, so younger readers may prefer to read it together. Sewell wrote Black Beauty in her last years, while ill, and died just months after it was published. The book influenced animal welfare laws and remains one of the best-selling novels of all time.
Related: The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb: Summary and Key Takeaways · Shayla Black Printable Book List
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Black Beauty about?
A horse tells the story of his life, from kind owners to cruel ones.
Who wrote it?
Anna Sewell.
When was it published?
1877.
Is it in the public domain?
Yes.
Is it sad?
It has sad passages, but ends hopefully.
What age is it for?
Roughly ages 8 and up.
Did it change attitudes to animals?
Yes, it helped promote kinder treatment of horses.
What should I read next?
Try The Black Stallion or Misty of Chincoteague.
Which book here is best for steeplechase dream?
Try National Velvet by Enid Bagnold, which suits readers looking for steeplechase dream.
Which book here is best for long journey home?
Try Lassie Come-Home by Eric Knight, which suits readers looking for long journey home.
Which book here is best for wolf-dog?
Try White Fang by Jack London, which suits readers looking for wolf-dog.
Which book here is best for a dog and a town?
Try Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo, which suits readers looking for a dog and a town.