⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)

A Home for Steamboat is a beautifully written and heartwarming tale that captivates readers of all ages. This charming children's book tells the story of Steamboat, a dog in search of a place where he truly belongs. The author skillfully blends gentle, relatable themes of home, belonging and friendship with delightful illustrations that bring the story to life.

What sets this book apart is its emotional depth. It doesn’t just focus on Steamboat’s journey, but also subtly teaches important lessons about resilience, acceptance, and finding your place in the world. The pacing is perfect, and the story unfolds in a way that keeps you both engaged and reflective.

The digital water-color styled illustrations are stunning—vibrant yet warm, enhancing the narrative and giving the reader a visual treat to go with the heartwarming tale. The characters are endearing, especially Steamboat, whose determination and kindness make him incredibly relatable to young readers and adults alike.

My only minor critique is that the ending feels slightly rushed, though it doesn’t take away from the overall impact of the story. A Home for Steamboat is an incredibly special book that will resonate with its readers, leaving them feeling uplifted & hopeful. It’s a wonderful addition to any child’s bookshelf and perfect for bedtime reading.

Highly recommend!

I adore this book. I grew up in a family that was very close to the rodeo, so it felt like a story my grandpa would tell me when I asked for a story.

The illustrations feel like old paintings and give a feel of Americana nostalgia. The colors are muted in present day, but vibrant in memories, which gives the reader a deeper understanding of how the story is told. The image of Steamboat being brushed in the barn by lamplight was particularly beautiful and I wouldn't be surprised if I saw that image framed somewhere. I really enjoyed the information about how the image was created using inspiration from Allen Tupper True.

This would be good for advanced children readers, as some of the words are more difficult that an early reader. The story is also quite emotional, so it would be good for children to learn about empathy.

I never knew Steamboat was real, so being able to read about Steamboat's legacy at the back of the book was a treat.

This is really a love letter to the wild west and cowboy life, and any family who has a history or passion for that history will love this book.

This was an enjoyable read. I liked finding out the the Wyoming plate horse was a real horse.

Thank you to the author, publisher, illustrator and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Description:
A Home for Steamboat tells the story of a horse who just didn’t want to be ridden.

Liked:
I thought the sepia tones for present day, and bright colours for the past, worked well. The faces have a lot of character.

Disliked:
The art style is definitely not for me, personally, although I’m sure others will like it. The horse’s anatomy was at times wrong in ways which didn’t seem purely stylistic - for example, on the page when Steamboat is being bought from his first home. The writing seems halfway between poetry and prose, although I can’t work out whether that’s intentional or just a result of bad typesetting. Either way, it’s not poetic enough to be beautiful, not informative enough to make for a strong story, and not simple enough for children. I’m not really sure who the market is here. I’m also not really convinced that there’s a big difference between a horse on a ‘spiritless’ ranch who is being shipped around to rodeos to buck off riders, and the home he ends up in. It seems the owner cares a bit more about him, but he’s still being shipped around rodeos to buck. I ended up just feeling bad for Steamboat.

Read This If:
As above, I’m really not sure who to recommend this book to - I don’t understand who it’s targeted towards.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC
4 out of 5
Recommended for older children, horse lovers, fans of US hisory trivia.
I'm familiar with Steamboat through Craig Johnson's Longmire books, so I couldn't pass up a chance to read this book.
It's a well told short bio of a very famous 'bucking bronco' who became one of Wyoming's state symbols.
The illustrator is known for his character/cariacature style of art, and there is so much detail here!
I do like that the story shows that animals have their own personalities and differences too, and that everyone needs understanding and acceptance to find what they are meant to do with their life.
The 'bookended' story of a grandfather and his granddaughter was a great storytelling device as well.
Perfect book for family storytime.

The illustrations are nice, although not my personal preference for style.
The story is a good one, and remind me of a short version of many of the horse books I read as a child. However, there were a lot of words on each page for a children's picture book. The timeline felt rushed.

Ages: 2-3rd grade (too much on each page for younger than 1st grade)
Recommended: only if there is a child who is extremely interested in horses or rodeo but is not ready for chapter books.

This honest review is given in exchange for a free ebook copy from NetGalley.

A cute story about an incredible horse. I appreciated that the author emphasized the importance of a strong relationship between the owner and Steamboat, and I loved that Grandpa was pictured working alongside his granddaughter on the ranch. This book would make a perfect gift for a young ranch hand!