From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3—Horse lovers who are not quite ready to tackle Jessie Haas's chapter books about Radish and Beware (HarperCollins) or Ann-Sophie Jeppson's information-rich "Pontus" stories (R & S Bks.) will appreciate this leveled reader. Paddywack conveys his frustration with Jane, who at first does not grasp the concept that the horse needs to be rewarded with treats. Jane is not the quickest learner, but when she forgets to close Paddy's stall one day, she witnesses his jump over the garden fence. This inspires the little girl to strive to do well in competition, and once she remembers the importance of rewarding her horse, he is similarly invested in her success. This makes for a winning combination. Clear and colorful illustrations, some of which are full-page scenes, convey emotion and evoke the equestrian lifestyle attractive to many children, especially girls. Short sentences, a limited amount of text, and a large font size will all enhance reading success. Besides appealing to the horsey set, this story sends the gentle, inspiring message that partners who look after one another's needs have the best shot at success.—
Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
About the Author
Stephanie Spinner is a well-known author who writes for various age groups. Her popular Stepping Stone book
Aliens for Breakfast was a Texas Bluebonnet Award winner. She also publishes literary fiction for Knopf, such as
Quiver,
Quicksilver,
Damosel, and an adaptation of
The Nutcracker. She lives in Sherman, Connecticut.
Daniel Howarth is the illustrator of
Why I Love Christmas and
What Are You Doing in My Bed? This is his first book for Random House.
