Horace [Hardcover]

Holly Keller (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

"Horace is adopted. He is also spotted, and he is loved and cared for by his new mother and father--who are striped. But...Horace feels the need to search out his roots...Keller deals with a sensitive subject in a way that is perceptive but not sentimental."--Publishers Weekly. "A first choice for those families seeking a low-key, reassuring book about adoption--and one that is fun to share as well."--Horn Book.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Horace is adopted. He is also spotted, and he is loved and cared for by his new mother and father--who are striped. But, as is frequently the case with adopted children who are "different" ("My spots are silly. . . and I'm all the wrong colors"), Horace feels the need to search out his roots. And although he does find a brood that resembles him physically, it is not a family that truly loves him. Once again, Keller ( Goodbye, Max ; Henry's Happy Birthday ) deals with a sensitive subject in a way that is perceptive but not sentimental. Her text is suitably straightforward: "We liked your spots, and we wanted you to be our child," says Mama in her customary bedtime story. The bright, boldly colored illustrations feature a lively animal cast and numerous amusing details, such as cat's-paw slippers beside Horace's bed. Youngsters will love Horace as they absorb his subtle message; even parents may find a small lump in their throats. Ages 4-up.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-- An adoption fable that has attractive, simple drawings in pen and watercolor; humor; and a graceful incorporation of several complex themes. Leopard-spotted Horace has tiger-striped parents, and he experiences the normal feelings of adopted children who do not look like their parents. Once or twice he wishes for different parents, and he has trouble accepting his looks. He decides to find a family where he belongs, and runs off to the park. There Horace makes friends with a kind family who look just like him, and who invite him to come with them. He realizes he wants to return to his own home and his own parents. Adults should be prepared to explain the part of the story in which Horace is told that he "lost" his first family, a word open to interpretation by preschoolers. Most adoption stories for young children use photos or drawings in a documentary or didactic way. Keller's use of appealing animal characters in a fictional tale is a welcome approach. --Anna Biagioni Hart, Sherwood Regional Library, Alexandria, VA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books (April 26, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688098312
• ISBN-13: 978-0688098315
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,151,020 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Almost Perfect, February 27, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Horace (Hardcover)

This is a favorite book of my 4 year old daughter, adopted from China. I always know when she is struggling with identity when she asks for the bedtime combination of Horace and Are You My Mother? I always change one word, though, because the word "chose" is not accurate to our situation. Horace's mother tells him, "We chose you when you were a tiny baby..." We did not "choose" our baby, we adopted our baby. So, when we read the story, we say, "We adopted you when..." Unlike other reviewers, I have no problem with saying my daughter lost her first family. She DID lose her first family and needs to know she can grieve that loss with us. My daughter also knows about appearances and knows she looks different than my husband and I do. She once asked why she doesn't have relatives who look like her. We have filled that gap with friends and associates who look like her. She still has the odd magical notion that, when she grows up, she will have curly blonde hair "like my Mom". Horace is a great way to get started having a very important conversation with an adopted child. It's a winner.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for adopted children of any age, February 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Horace (Hardcover)

While Horace is an excellent book for children, especially when adopted cross culturally, it can be helpful for older children as well. I work in international education, and teenagers have appreciated it when identiy issues hit. As an adoptive mother, I wish I had thought to encourage my children to "choose us, too" as Horace did at the end of the story. Every adoptive parent should consider this as a way to give young adopted children a sense of control and add something precious to their adoption stories. I also appreciated how positively the "tigers" he meets and plays with in his search were regarded. It is a wonderful story of love and choice and how both can contribute to identity.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hooray for Horace!, January 26, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Horace (Hardcover)

Horace, the little leopard, just wants to belong. His having spots rather than stripes (like his parents) is just a metaphor for his worries about not belonging -- sometimes. By the end of the story, he realizes that "spots vs. stripes" really isn't important at all.

At first, when reading this book over myself, I liked the low-key, reassuring tone that struck me as sweet, not sappy. The real acid test was, however, how my toddler son reacted. It's been over 2 years now and he still requests Horace at bedtime.