A new illustrated chapter book titled The Blue Dog and the White Horse: The Best of Friends, written by Haven Lindsey and illustrated by Emily Pritchett, will be released on 8 July 2025 by Brandylane Publishers.
The book is intended for readers aged 7 to 10 and tells a true story of friendship between Gracie Be, a small blue dog rescued as a malnourished puppy, and Max, a large white horse formerly used in rodeo events. Despite differences in age, size, species, and life experience, the dog and horse form a close bond.
The narrative follows their real-life adventures and the development of their companionship. According to the publisher, the collection of stories reflects themes of courage, compassion, communication, and connection. The book includes a downloadable activity book designed for middle-grade readers and families to accompany the main text.
The book features watercolour illustrations by Emily Pritchett and has been endorsed by individuals from a range of sectors, including education, entertainment, mental health, and social activism. One such endorsement came from Steve Almond, New York Times bestselling author, who said: “A remarkable book in the tradition of Charlotte’s Web. I fell in love with Gracie and Max. A book for anyone who loves animals and recognises the deep, healing power of friendship.”
Haven Lindsey has more than twenty years of experience writing human interest stories and works full-time as a healthcare writer and marketing strategist. She has written on topics including health and wellbeing, public policy, education, travel, and food. She lives near Taos, New Mexico, with Gracie and her cat, Banjo.
Illustrator Emily Hurst Pritchett studied illustration at Brigham Young University. She lives in Colombia with her husband and two children. Further information about her work is available at emilypritchettart.com