What's the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses? [Paperback]

Richard Van Camp (Author), George Littlechild (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

"I'm a stranger to horses and horses are strangers to me," admits the author/narrator at the beginning of this delightful tale of discovery. Members of the Dogrib nation from Canada, Van Camp's people use dogs instead of horses. Yet Van Camp has always been curious about horses. So he sets off on a playful search for "the most beautiful thing about horses," talking to family, friends, and even artist George Littlechild, who is a Plains Cree and knows something about horses. The answers Van Camp gets range from zany to profound: Horses can run sideways. Horses have secrets. Horses can always find their way home. Littlechild's bold and fanciful paintings perfectly capture Van Camp's playful vision of the world.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this slim volume, Van Camp, a member of the Dogrib nation from Canada's Northwest Territories, asks the titular question of friends and family members to gain knowledge of horses. Addressing readers as "partners," the author explains that he is a stranger to horses, for in his often frosty homeland "All's we had up here were dogs." In a voice that moves awkwardly between that of cowboy and poet, the narrator imagines what he'd ask a horse: "Do horses think fireworks are strange flowers blooming in the sky?"; "When horses and dogs talk to each other, what do you think they say?" He then returns to the question posed in the book's title, and the answers he receives form a curious pastiche of impressions, ranging from his mother's comment that horses "must have secrets. When they run they seem to flow over the land" to a buddy's response that he doesn't like horses because "you feel great all day when you ride them but after that you feel bowlegged." Littlechild, who collaborated with Van Camp on A Man Called Raven, conveys a similarly capricious quality in his boldly hued paintings. An array of stylized images of equines and canines cavorting in living rooms and over rooftops as well as the more expected nature scenes incorporate stars and stripes, hearts and horseshoes. Despite the inviting, folksy tone, the book's strongly personal focus and frequently ambiguous meanderings make its potential audience difficult to determine. Ages 6-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-"It is so cold the ravens refuse to fly." When you live in Canada's Northwest territories, what do you do when it's this cold? This young narrator decides to ask his family and friends, "What's the most beautiful thing you know about horses?" It's a surprise question since dogs are more important to the people of this small Arctic community-horses don't survive here. It is evident that satellite TV viewing influences the responses to the concept of beauty in this southern beast. The author engages in a remarkable free flow of musings, questions, and answers. His startling narrative style, lively pace, offbeat sense of humor, and refreshing stance give readers a lot to think about. The result is a direct and highly amusing comparison of the value of dogs and horses. In Littlechild's vibrant, surrealistic illustrations, horses vibrate and prance off the pages, dogs bay or lounge at the center of attention, and distorted figures eye readers. Brash, bold hues enliven the special aspects of each figure, while narrow bands of color along one side contrast with the central image. Particularly effective are the images pitted against the pitch dark, wintry skies. The use of photos of family members introduces an unexpected sense of reality to the paintings. A stunning piece of work that's sure to spark discussion.
Ronald Jobe, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Children's Book Press; First Trade Paper Edition edition (March 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892391855
• ISBN-13: 978-0892391851
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #282,196 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #4 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Multicultural Stories > Native People (Canada)
  • #22 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Explore the World > Canada
  • #71 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Multicultural Stories > Native North & South Americans

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What's the most beautiful thing you know about horses?, May 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: What's the Most Beautiful Thing You Know about Horses? (Hardcover)

It's forty below in the Northwest Territories of Canada - so cold the ravens won't fly & Richard can't go outside. He decides to ask his family & friends the question that became the title to this book. Their answers bring a whole other world into light. Brilliantly illustrated by George Littlechild from the Plains Cree Nation, this humorous quest of a youngster's mind during a long winter's day, brings out the silly & the insightful. Makes a lovely gift!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful and culturally rich book, November 29, 2008

By 

D. Rachlin "wunland" (Stow, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: What's the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses? (Paperback)

This book combines the gorgeous artwork of George Littlechild and the wonderful text by Richard van Camp, both of partial Canadian First Nations heritage. Because the book asks many questions, your students can be asked to respond either orally or in writing, making this book perfect for interactive learning. It is also a wonderful addition to North American culture studies at any grade. The Cree word for horse is written one way (mista'tim) and given a non-corresponding pronunciation hint (mistaim). My source (Meet Cree by H. C. Wolfart) writes horse as: misatim. Not a big deal, but one wonders why this wasn't caught by the editor. Another extended writing assignment would be to change the title to a different animal and have the students ask people to respond in a similar fashion.

5.0 out of 5 stars Uplifting story and bold whimiscal art works for young and old, February 3, 2009

By 

J. Stone "editor" (Worcester, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What's the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses? (Paperback)

A young Dogrib Indian boy in Northwest Canada wonders about horses and then asks his family and townspeople the question in the title. Their answers come from the heart and are both simple and poetic. The boy asks readers at the end to think of how they would answer the question and then asks, "What's the most beautiful thing that you know about you?" A truly special book that makes you think, filled with bright, bold and lively art that captures the spirit of horses.