ALA Booklist (Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2008)

"Seabiscuit-itis" is a rare topic for children's books, but the saga of this underdog, er, horse, makes a compelling story for kids. Here, McCarthy provides a lively if diffuse introduction to the famous animal; his owner, trainer, and jockey; and the excitement he gave to Americans during the Great Depression. McCarthy's stylized acrylic art is less successful here than in previous offerings, often appearing too static for illustrations about racing. Regardless, young horse lovers will be attracted to the visual caricature of Seabiscuit and cheer him on through this courageous triumph-over-adversity tale. The book's climax is, naturally, the big race against War Admiral, and the happy ending is followed by extensive author notes and a list of sources that includes a link to a video of this 70-year-old battle full of drama and exhilaration.

Horn Book (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

Ida May has so much fun with her new best friend, Stacey. They even form a secret club after finding a mermaid night-light they think grants wishes. But when Stacey begins to stretch the truth with her "imagining," it puts Ida May in a tough position. Though didacticism creeps in, the story sensitively describes the push and pull of fourth-grade friendships.

Kirkus Reviews

In the late 1930s, when times were tough and people went to the races to escape, they fell in love with a small, funny-looking, underdog horse gentled and trained so well he beat the elegant War Admiral with an unfamiliar jockey in the saddle. The relatively simple text is characteristically and humorously illustrated by the author in cartoon-style, double-page acrylic paintings in muted colors; equally pop-eyed people and horses are emphasized with heavy black outlines. A short section describing Seabiscuit's training is set up as a photo album, with black-and-white pictures against faux-yellowed paper and short descriptions of the major figures: owner Charles Howard, trainer "Silent Tom" Smith and John "Red" Pollard, his usual jockey. McCarthy develops Seabiscuit's character in hoofbeat-like staccato sentences—"Seabiscuit was wild...Seabiscuit was lazy...Seabiscuit was angry and stubborn"—and explicitly draws the connection between the underdog racehorse and the down-on-its-luck public. An ample author's note and sources fill in the story and point to further information. A winning introduction to the sport of kings for the read-aloud set. (Informational picture book. 4-7)

School Library Journal (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Adult/High School-This well-written and compelling book celebrates the life of a racehorse that just happened to be a descendant of Man O' War. It is a story of a huge talent that almost went unrecognized until the right people came along. According to descriptions, Seabiscuit was a runt, with stubby legs, an odd walk, and a lazy nature. However, he became so popular that he drew more news coverage than President Roosevelt, Hitler, or Mussolini. The atmosphere surrounding his historic match with War Admiral was so intense that FDR kept advisors waiting as he listened with the rest of the country to hear the outcome. Hillenbrand also tells the stories of owner Charles Howard, trainer Tom Smith, and jockey Red Pollard and the part each man played in the recognition and development of a racing legend. But the book is much more. Seabiscuit is a story of the times and it is a story of the hard and dangerous life of a jockey. Even readers with no interest in the sport will be hooked with the opening sentence of the book's preface. Hillenbrand does a wonderful job in bringing an unlikely winner to life.-Peggy Bercher, Fairfax County Public Library, VA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.