Common Sense Media Review
By Sally Engelfried
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Silly cowboy adventure perfect for new chapter-book readers.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Inspired by the Western movies he loves, Leroy Ninker buys Maybelline the horse. Though Maybelline is old and has only four teeth and Leroy has never ridden a horse in his life, it's mutual love at first sight. Instructed to give Maybelline lots of compliments, Leroy finds a poetical side of his nature he didn't know he possessed, and Maybelline thrives on his sweet talking. But when Leroy forgets that Maybelline hates being alone, disaster strikes: She runs away! In the middle of a horrible thunderstorm, Leroy must search high and low for his beloved horse.
Is It Any Good?
LEROY NINKER SADDLES UP features the same delightfully silly but sweet flavor as that in author Kate DiCamillo's Mercy Watson series, which takes place in the same town. The short, action-filled chapters with occasional illustrations make this a perfect book for early readers graduating to slightly longer chapter books.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how cowboy movies inspired Leroy to buy a horse. Has a movie or book ever inspired you to try something new? Did it live up to your expectations?
What do you like about reading funny stories like this one? Even though it isn't realistic, is there anything in it that seems real?
Did you enjoy seeing characters from the Mercy Watson series? Can you think of other books wherein characters make "guest appearances"?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Chris Van Dusen
- Genre : Humor
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship , Animals
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Candlewick Press
- Publication date : August 26, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 6 - 9
- Number of pages : 96
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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