The Magical Christmas Horse [Hardcover]

Mary Higgins Clark (Author), Wendell Minor (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: October 25, 2011 | Age Range: 4 and up | Lexile Measure: 910L (What's this?)

Johnny’s wish had come true. His family would be visiting his grandparents for Christmas. His grandparents lived in an old house in New England where his father had been born. The family together, the smells of the cookies baking, the snowy Christmas tree farm with trees of so many shapes and sizes, and most of all the wooden horse he had told his brother Liam about would make this the best Christmas ever. In his grandparents’ attic Johnny finds many treasures, but the wooden horse he remembered so well is missing. How can Johnny make his brother’s Christmas wish come true?

Beloved and internationally bestselling author Mary Higgins Clark’s loving story together with Wendell Minor’s captivating paintings make The Magical Christmas Horse a book that captures the true heart of Christmas and one that families will make part of their Christmas tradition year after year.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Eight-year-old Johnny is eager to visit his grandparents in their big stone house in Connecticut. He vividly remembers his last trip there when he was three, and his strongest memory is of a beautiful, hand-carved wooden horse. Johnny tells his little brother, Liam, that this year, it will be his turn to enjoy it–but the horse has vanished. Will wishing be enough to bring it back on Christmas Day? This story of a caring family, skillfully illustrated in gouache and watercolor, warmly and effectively conveys the selfless ideal of the season.

School Library Journal, October 2011

“Nostalgic paintings and narrative, along with these collaborators’ (Ghost Ship) hefty fan bases, are likely to make this a solid holiday seller...Minor’s gouache and watercolor art, featuring his characteristic exquisite detail, gives the book its magic” – Publisher’s Weekly, September 2011

About the Author

#1 New York Times bestselling author Mary Higgins Clark has written thirty-two suspense novels; three collections of short stories; an historical novel, Mount Vernon Love Story; and a memoir, Kitchen Privileges and two children’s books, The Magical Christmas Horse and Ghost Ship. She is the coauthor with Carol Higgins Clark of five suspense novels: Dashing Through the Snow, Deck the Halls, He Sees You When You’re Sleeping, The Christmas Thief, and Santa Cruise. More than 100 million copies of her books are in print in the United States alone, and her books are worldwide bestsellers.

Wendell Minor is the award-winning illustrator of dozens of picture books, including his own Yankee Doodle America, Robert Burleigh's Into the Woods, and Reaching for the Moon, written by Buzz Aldrin. Mr. Minor's work can be found in the permanent collections of such institutions as the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art and the Library of Congress. He lives with his wife, Florence, in Washington, Connecticut. Visit Wendell Minor at www.minorart.com.

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books; First Edition edition (October 25, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416994785
• ISBN-13: 978-1416994787
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 10.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #322,250 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

If I were to define myself in one sentence, I would say, "I'm a nice Irish Catholic girl from the Bronx."

I was a Christmas Eve baby all those years ago, the second of the three children of Nora and Luke Higgins. Mother was pushing forty when they married and my father was forty-two. My older brother was named Joseph. Nineteen months later I, Mary, was born. Three and a half years later, my little brother, John, came along.

We lived in a very nice section of the Bronx on a street off Pelham Parkway. I loved our house. I still love it. After my father died, when I was eleven, my mother had to sell it.

I went to Saint Francis Xavier Grammar School. Two years ago I went back and was Principal for a Day. Escorted by two of the tiniest children, I was led into the auditorium while the whole student body sang "Hello Mary. You're back where you belong." I still tear up thinking about it.

I was awarded a scholarship to Villa Maria Academy which is in the Pelham Bay section of the Bronx, otherwise I couldn't have afforded to set foot in it.

I went to Woods Secretarial School and at eighteen had my first full-time job as Secretary to the creative director of Remington Rand's in-house advertising agency. If I were making that choice now I would have gone to college even though God knows we needed the income. On the other hand the three years I spent in Remington Rand was a tutorial in advertising which served me well when I was widowed with five small children. Another plus was that I left Remington to be a flight stewardess with Pan American Airways and when my contemporaries were seniors in college, I was flying to Europe, Africa and Asia.

Warren Clark and I were married on December 26, 1949 and had five children in the next eight years; Marilyn, Warren, David, Carol and Patricia. Warren died of a heart attack in 1964. The highest compliment I can pay my kids are that they are like him.

I sold my first short story when I was twenty-eight. It was alled 'Stowaway'. It had been rejected forty times before a magazine in Chicago bought it for one hundred dollars.

My first book was about George Washington. It was published in 1969 and disappeared without a trace. Three years ago Simon and Schuster co-published it with the Mount Vernon Historical Society and retitled 'Mount Vernon Love Story', it became a bestseller.

My first suspense novel 'Where Are the Children' was bought in 1974 for three thousand dollars by Simon and Schuster. Thirty-three books later, I'm still with S&S.

Time to wind up - at least for the present. As soon as I sold 'Children' I enrolled in Fordham College. Went there for five years at night and earned a B.A. in Philosophy. Summa cum laude, if you please.

I never thought I'd marry again but ten years ago I threw a cocktail party on St. Patrick's day. My daughter, Pat, urged me to invite John Conheeney. Her opening words about him were, "Have I got a hunk for you!" He came to the party and we were married eight months later.

I'm Honorary Chairman of FraXa Research. My grandson, David, has the Fragile X syndrome, which is the second leading cause of retardation after Downs Syndrome. Basically the brain of the people who have it can't send out the proper signals because there's a kind of short circuit in the synapses that carry the signals. We raise money for research with the goal of finding a medication that will work around that short circuit. I go all over the country to the fund-raisers as new chapters of FraXa are opened.

I'm always asked to name my favorite book. They're ALL my favorites. If there is one book that is very special to me, it is my memoir 'Kitchen Privileges' because writing it made me relive my early life including those first struggles to become a writer. I think 'Kitchen Privileges' is both tender and funny and it's me.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

(What's this?)

#90 Overall (See top 100 authors)

#19 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary

#20 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers

#21 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary Fiction

#25 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers

#27 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery

#19 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary

#20 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers

#21 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary Fiction

#25 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers

#27 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Wishes Do Come True, Especially Christmas Wishes November 1, 2011

By White Fang

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

"The Magical Christmas Horse" is a beautifully colored 10 3/8 inch by 10 3/8 inch children's Christmas picture book. The illustrations by Wendell Minor are very colorful and highlight the characters and their feelings. Children will be captivated by the illustrations of the road to the Connecticut house, the grandparents' house, harvesting Christmas trees, Christmas morning around the fireplace and of course the "Magical Christmas Horse," himself. The dust cover is absolutely beautiful and will hook the attention of all children to read what is inside the book. Both the front and back endpapers are very beautifully illustrated with scenes from the house in Connecticut at Christmas. Actually the decorated endpapers of the book are even more beautiful than the illustrations inside the book.

Anyone who ever dreamed of going back to grandma and grandpa's house at Christmas and explore the antique treasures in the attic will enjoy this nostalgic story. Johnny, the main character in this story, remembers visiting his grandparents' house in Connecticut when he was three years old. It was the very house where his father grew up and had remained in the family for 265 years. One of his fondest memories was riding an antique wooden horse on wheels. Several years have passed since then and Johnny's parents announced that they would be spending Christmas with Johnny's grandparents in Connecticut. Johnny loved his little brother, Liam. All Johnny could think of was the wonderful magical horse that he once rode around his grandparent's house. He wanted to present this same horse to his brother as a Christmas gift. When Johnny and his family arrived at their grandparents' house all he could think about was the horse.... His happy mood quickly changed when his grandfather told him that the horse was never returned from an antique toy exhibition where it was on display. Johnny wished and wished that the horse would be returned so that his little brother, Liam, could experience the same joy that he had years before. Just before Christmas, Johnny wanders into his grandparent's attic and rummages through some old trunks. In one of the trunks Johnny makes a very sad discovery. He finds the horse, but it was broken into pieces. You will want to read this book to find the magic in and through the broken horse and how wishes do come true, especially Christmas wishes.

The story is a light and nostalgic tale which would appeal to any child who has, or had a grandparent or who has ever visited their grandparents at Christmas. However, I feel the story is a slight bit superficial and is not written in the tradition of Mary Higgins Clark's typical great literary style. Read more ›

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Magical Christmas Horse January 21, 2012

By Judyb Clark

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book as a Christmas present for a slow reader I know. It is big, colorful and easy to read. I'm glad you group books at readers levels. Makes it easier to choose. I reccomend it for any child who reads under 5th grade level.......

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The Magical Christmas Horse November 28, 2011

By Col Bill

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

When I opened the box from Amazon to see the book, it took me a long time to control my laughter. I have all of Mary Higgns Clark's books. I am over 80 years old. I did not realize I was buying a children's book. SOOO I sat down and read it. A very interesting story. I am sure my 9 year old Grand Daughter will enjoy it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas Book for my grandchildren November 25, 2011

By Shirley J. Haag

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

The Magical Christmas Horse

this was purchased for my grandchildren to read during the upcoming holidays when they are over to visit. they all love reading or listening to stories. The illustrations are terrific and a wonderful author as well. Great addition to the family library.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Magical Christmas Horse November 25, 2011

By Patricia A. Wojnas

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Wonderful holiday book to give to a child. It is a well written book, and lets you share a book with a younger child.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book November 25, 2011

By dot

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

My grandchildren were excited when they saw the picture on the cover. They were interested in following the story line and stayed involved until the conclusion. I was pleased that the story had an upbeat theme and a "happy-ever-after" ending.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book! Thank you! November 9, 2011

By Shanara Schmidt

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a lovely book and I bought two of them for my grandkids. I think they are going to love this book, it is colorful with beautiful pictures and easy to comprehend. Thank you.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming December 23, 2011

By Maureen Addiego

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a beautifully written and illustrated story for the holidays. It harkens back to the Christmases I remember as a child when it didn't seem quite as hectic or commercialized as it does now. I still try to make baked items for gifts as well as some homemade items for special gifts. I still cherish the ones I received from family and friends, especially my mother.