It's Maria's MutS and Stuff. What a great idea on iHeart Radio. Welcome
to Maria's MutS and Stuff and with me today. I'm very excited to speak
with National Geographic Kids editor Christina sour about can't get enough horse stuff. So,
Christina, I'm so excited to talk to you about this beautiful book.
I am so excited to be here yet. This is probably one of my
favorite books that National Geographic Kids has done for seven to ten year old all
about one of their favorite subjects. Yes, it's so funny. So I
mean, and you've probably edited so many different of Nazio Kids books. So
what is it about horses just like kids that makes you love them? Well,
I will say I'm a little biased because I was absolutely that horse girl
as a kid. Huh. I had horses growing up. I wanted to
be a part of the Stattle Club if you remember that. Sure, I
just loved them, and I feel like a lot of kids do. There's
something about horses that just resonates and connects us. And they aren't very intuitive
creatures that we kind of feel like. Dog may be man's best friend,
but I really think horses are everyone. I think so too, I think,
and maybe also because it's funny you say that because it's true, And
maybe it's because it's easier for us and for kids especially to have dogs,
but not everybody can have a horse, right, it's true, And the
fact that you can ride them and take care of them, there's something this
nurturing aspect that goes both ways. Yeah, that's interesting. I never thought
of it like that. Like sometimes I tease my dog if somehow or other
there's like a horse, like a mounted police officer on a horse, because
I live in the city and it's like, hey, look, it's a
big dog, even though they're not like big dogs, right, but they
are just as sweet. Sometimes you can't kids, and I I don't mind
going to muggled by a horse, right, So how long did it take
for you to, like, for this whole book to get together? Which,
by the way, I'm not done with it yet because there are so
many, so many interesting facts and photos and I'm trying trying to absorb it
all in even though I'm not between seven and ten. But how long?
So actually, it's also good for adults who like horses like me. But
how long did it take to put the whole thing together and then to edit
it and like to get to your final product. Absolutely. So yeah,
we like to say that we have a specific age range for these books,
but you're right, this is for anyone and you can literally just open it
up and learn something new on every page. Yes, yes, So this
book honestly takes about two years. That's usually how long it takes to make
a book. And we had a great team involved. So there's always an
editor who oversees all the different aspects, but we also have this phenomenal writer
his name is Neil Kavanaugh. And then we bring in an expert that's one
of the hallmarks from that Quo Kids books. We always have somebody who's really
specialized in the field, and we had Carrie Turner from the University of Georgia
who oversaw and gave us some feedback. I'm making sure everything was accurate.
We have a photo team that pulls together all of these amazing photos. And
when I say amazing photos, this book is just peppered with every kind of
expression type of course, just really interactive photography that makes this fun so much
fun, uh huh. And then we have and then we take it and
we bring it to our copy editors, making sure all the grammars right,
and then we're sending off and haven't actually made into a physical book and sell
at your local bookstores, right right. I means it takes you know,
it's like that whole thing. It takes a village, but it does.
It takes a lot of people to put together this book. And I mean,
and it's so I like the fact that it's glossy and it's colorful,
and with all the different color like fonts and print, you know, I
mean, I can definitely see how it appeals to kids, but it really
does appeal to adults too, right. I'm sure you enjoyed going through it
the first time, you know, as soon as it was done right,
Honestly, even just the first page, I was already blown away because I
don't know about you, but I always thought that horses and ponies were different
creatures. They aren't at all. We immediately debunked that, and we say,
actually, a horse is a pony there. It's just horses are over
fifty eight inches and ponies are under or as fifty eight inches. They both
come from the same species, which is heckless calabus. So we teach kids
right off the front exactly. That's what you're about to learn so much.
That's true, It's true. I mean I, like I said, I
didn't finish it, but I had no idea that the way horses eyes are
on the sides of their heads. And I found this to me is fascinating
that they, unlike us, they can see two different images. Like if
one eye is looking at you approaching on the right, and say another horse
is approaching on the left, they can see that in their brains two images,
right, is that? I mean, that's what I got out of
it, which is incredible, Like wow, how does that? How did
that happen? Right? Well? And it's so funny because you start to
learn, especially in this book, and we never spell it out exactly.
And I think that's the really fun part is we just scratch the surface here
and really provote gets to go and learn more. Lots of games and it's
all experiential learning. But in that case, it's like wait why and you
start to learn Wait a minute, that's the difference sometimes between prey and predators,
Like yeah, as humans, we have our eyes in front, we
only need to see one image because we're not scared about anyone attacking us from
the back, right, as many predators aren't. But the prey they always
have to be aware or see the horse's ears. They can go all the
way around and listen behind them, in front of them, and independently too.
Yeah, and who knew that, I mean other than you kind of
not thought that. But if you see a horse moving its ears different and
you're like, oh, look at that. But to actually like see it
and read about it and know like that's a fact, it's true, it's
fascinating. I mean, I think, and I guess I can't wait to
finish reading it. And I'm sure my listeners for their kids or even for
themselves who like horses, which is probably everybody. I don't think I know
anyone who dislikes a horse, right, it's just so perfect. So of
all the different I guess, and I want to say chapters, but it's
not more of sections. Do you have a favorite section of the book?
You know, I am handling my inner child here, But I love our
personality quizzes personally. Okay, we have two of them, and what we
did was purposely made them very aspirational. So one of them on you know,
seven ten year old are famous per saying, oh, what do I
want to be when I grow up? And they're trying to come up with
all of these like flower and be a farmer or a firefighter or a doctor.
And in this one, this is for that kid who's like, I
love horses, but I don't know what I can do with a horse unless
I'm a veterinarian. And here we go, Okay, take a personality quiz
and see what you are. And for me, I ended up being a
horse trainer if I wanted to be based on my personality. So it teaches
kids a little bit about themselves. Sure also tells them, hey, there's
these other jobs. And then we even I mean go so far as to
introduce them to experts in the horse field, right, such as one who's
putting cave arts to find out one is a history of horses, or a
woman who takes many horses to hospitals to help dough therapy. It's incredible,
it is, It really is, and it's so funny because I can hear
the excitement about it in your voice and it's so sincere. So I know
that you really loved putting this together. I could tell you. I'm so
ready for it to be. I can't wait to see a child have it
in their hands because now that it's finally out, I'm like, now you
can read about it and get excited too. Sure. I had the pleasure
of helping my mom with a little girl during the pandemic and helping raise her
and her horses, her thing. We just played and learned about horses the
whole time. And let me tell you, I cannot wait to give her
this book because I'm like, just you wait, there's even more facts that
we didn't even know and discovered follows. Oh my goodness, Oh my goodness.
She's gonna be so excited to see this book. That's awesome. I
know it's awesome. And you know, you know, because kids, to
me are just pure honesty. So you know you're going to see the full
reaction for real, and you know it's gonna be amazing because she's gonna love
it. Oh yeah. And then she's gonna want to play horses. Why
not? Oh yeah, that's true. And then you can you can actually
as an adult, play horses because you're playing with a child, right,
It's too funny. So well, I do. I'm so excited to talk
to you about this book, And like I said, for my listeners to
pick it up, they can get it in any bookstore or at the National
Geographic website. Is that a place as well? Absolutely? We also have
Shop Disney or anywhere where you buy your books online. Okay. And for
you, what and I know what is because I know you love doing horses.
What's your next project as an editor? There? Oh? You know,
I am all about historical projects. So I am right now looking for
the next big history's topic, whether it's ancient Egypt or the Titanic or the
Holocaust. I really want to tell a story of from survivors, right.
Oh yeah, that would be a good one. Okay, Well, good
luck with that. But thank you so much for all you did with this
because it's just I love it. Giddy up, let's go. Can't get
enough horse stuff. It's so perfect. So Christina Saur, thank you for
your time and for all of your effort and energy. And I know that
you loved putting it together. And I know anyone who picks this book up,
whether they're between seven and ten or they're ninety five years old, they're
going to be fascinated with it. And honest sleep I didn't want to take
that personality quiz because I saw it, but I didn't take it, so
now I'm intrigued. So thank you so very much for your time. Thank
you, and make sure you tell me what you end up being. Of
course I will Operator Operator