The inhumane treatment of animals stems from a low view of God and His creation. We are caretakers of nature, animals included, and when we treat nature disrespectfully we are betraying our mandate. Into this system comes the story of Black Beauty, a paragon of horses, but seen as so much chattel among his caretakers. Dealing with deep subjects such as innate morality and stewardship, this book popularized talking animal stories while addressing the problem of human cruelty. Black Beauty is a world classic that has grown from a simple protest of a harmful restraining device then in use to a timeless call for the proper treatment of animals and humans, as well as a reverence for God. Recommended for ages 8 and up.
