Gletta the Foal [Hardcover]

Bruce McMillan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1998 | Age Level: 3 and up

An Icelandic foal searches for the source of something that she can hear but not see.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1-The vivid blues and earth tones of the vast Icelandic landscape are captured by McMillan's sure photographic eye. Against this panoramic backdrop, a story involving a particular brown-and-white Icelandic foal unfolds. Gletta's first-person, anthropomorphized narrative in large typeface runs along the bottom of each page. The story is a simple one: the animal is puzzled and scared by something she can hear but not see, and she asks a friend and her family what is making the noise. Although no one tells her directly, enough visual and textual clues are given for children to surmise that the wind is the culprit. There is no denying the quality of the photographs, although the limitations of the story inhibit their variety. A beautiful, quiet book for youngsters who enjoy solving a simple mystery.
Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 3^-7. Gletta, a fetching Icelandic foal, was only a few months old when McMillan photographed her in her beautiful Arctic home. Accompanying his crystal-clear pictures is a playful, imaginative first-person narrative that captures Gletta's thoughts as she interacts with other horses, including her parents, friend, and uncle. Youngsters may enjoy guessing what Gletta hears but cannot see, and they may also identify with the emotions she experiences--fear, curiosity, and, ultimately, the comfort of nuzzling with Mom. Unfortunately, McMillan doesn't share his knowledge of Icelandic foals, foals in general, or Gletta's native Iceland. A section with some factual information would have increased the book's educational value. Still, this is a captivating picture book, which will delight youngsters, especially ones who love horses. Lauren Peterson

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Corporation (September 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761450394
• ISBN-13: 978-0761450399
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,524,226 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice pictures of horses, but the story is lacking, November 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Gletta the Foal (Hardcover)

I bought this book for my 5 year old who LOVES horses. It has some nice pictures of horses, but there is hardly a story at all. It begins with a little horse introducing herself and then she spends the rest of the book saying "I thought I heard a noise...I can hear it, but I can't see it...I guess it was nothing. The End. I think that my 5 year old could have come up with a much better story. And you learn nothing about horses in this story. I can not recomend this book, as there are some calandars with equally nice photography.