FOUR OF A KIND

It's a dream come true when Andy's irascible Grandpa allows him to buy a neighbor's twin Percherons. Suddenly, what looked like a dull summer becomes a busy one; Andy must not only raise the money to pay for the huge horses but also, with an eye toward the Eastern Idaho State Fair Pulling Contest, train them to work together. Under Grandpa's exacting tutelage, Andy learns to use them as a team, hauling feed, logs, and even—when a friend is injured in an accident—an immense rock. As in all good horse stories, the animals take center stage here, exhibiting strong, distinct personalities. Though the author doesn't spare much sympathy for Andy's separated parents, she allows the (virtually all-male) human cast some personal concerns, too. Andy gets to the fair, and his horses not only win the pulling contest but—in a dramatic finale—they pull a record-breaking load. Simple and satisfying. (Fiction. 10-13)