"Experience the magical world of Irish storytelling where many remarkable characters await you: a king with a mysterious secret, brave warriors famous for their strength, a clever leprechaun who outwits humans, and many more"--Front dust jacket flap.

The king has horse's ears and hides his secret. But being different can be an advantage. That's what King Mark learns, as will young readers of this book, which is up for the Australian Library Association Book of the Year award."[This] version gives the tale new legs and a strong heart." -TES Teacher

King Mark has a secret: He has horse's ears. No one knows but his barber, but the secret eats away at the barber until he has to tell the doctor -- and the doctor advises him to tell his secret to the ground. Eventually the king has to admit his secret and learns to live with his ears.

Born in the stables of the Sultan of Morocco, an Arabian stallion named Sham is taken to England, along with the loyal yet mute Arab stable boy who tends to him, and becomes one of the founding sires of the Thoroughbred breed.