Meet Kumakawa, a once successful racehorse named after Tetsuya Kumakawa, a famous ballet dancer. Kuma (as the horse is affectionately known to his friends) is thoroughly enjoying his idyllic retirement on a picturesque farm in the valleys of South Wales, where he can trot freely up the mountain path and sample fresh grass, all under the watchful eyes of his friend Daisy, a sheepdog. Kuma is feeling particularly lazy one day, but Daisy is anxious for a new adventure. A little boy named Max shows up at the farm and wants to learn to ride a horse. As it turns out, Max knows something he can teach the animals as well. Max is dressed in loose-fitting pants and a green-belted tunic, and Kuma and Daisy will soon learn the meaning behind Max’s unusual attire...

Today It's Karate is the first book in the The Adventures of Kumakawa: The Horse That Will Try Anything series. Written with children between the ages of 4-10 in mind, this series looks at exploring and embracing new experiences, even when we feel we are not the perfect size or shape for it.

It's a charming tale with some beautiful illustrations that bring the story vividly to life. In this book the young reader will learn a bit about karate as well as the person that Kumakawa is named after.

This is an interesting series, designed to introduce and explain new experiences to young children. It's the perfect book for bedtime reading.

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Nick Smithson