From School Library Journal
K-Gr 3-A memorable story of a blacksmith's son who shoes his first horse. The young narrator describes the night his father assures and guides him through the process of shoeing Shadow Horse. The direct structure of the narrative is remarkably rich in sensual elements, capturing the smell of red-hot iron and the hammer's ringing rhythms. This explanation of the blacksmith's craft will find an appreciative audience above and beyond horse fans. Lewin's light-filled paintings feature scenes seeped in fiery rose or moonlit blush on double-page spreads.
Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Ages 4-8. In this simply told, intimately atmospheric father-son tale, a young narrator looks on one winter's evening as his blacksmith father reshoes three of a plow horse's hooves, then, for the first time, hears "it's your turn." Lit by the forge's orange light, every tool and piece of scrap in the modern smithy is painted in precise detail, as are the two sturdy workers, intent on their task, and the white horse looming hugely over all. Although children will get at least a general sense of how horseshoeing is done, this is mostly about shared love and respect as one generation teaches another. That makes it a worthy companion or alternative to such titles as Mary Lyn Ray's Basket Moon (1999), illustrated by Barbara Cooney, and Sherry Garland's My Father's Boat (1998), illustrated by Ted Rand. John Peters
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
