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White, non-Hispanic children are more likely to be read aloud to every day than either black, non-Hispanic or Hispanic... More
Summary: The story opens with the reader meeting an unhappy horse. We follow him around Colonial Williamsburg and watch as the townspeople try to help him. They fix his horseshoes and take special care of him, but that wasn't enough. What he wanted was a horse friend.
(blacksmith, shod, etc).
This is a picture book about friendship that also offers readers a look at colonial America.
Type of Reading: bedtime story, family reading, anytime reading, playtime reading, read aloud book, early reader book
Recommended Age: read together: 4 to 8; read yourself: 8 to 12
Age of Child: Read with a 4-year-old girl.
Little Kid Reaction: Our daughter liked this book and we read it several times. She liked the rhyming and how the horse needed a friend. She also really enjoyed the great drawings of Colonial Williamsburg. She made comments about the scenery and had me stop reading so we could look at and talk about each page.
Big Kid Reaction: This was a fun story and it had a cute rhyming rhythm to it. I loved the illustrations of Colonial Williamsburg. I was very surprised my daughter liked the book. I thought she would be bored because it took place in a historical setting. I was wrong. She loved it! We will be making a trip to Colonial Williamsburg soon because of the story!
Pros: This is a fun story with great illustrations. It is a nice way to introduce kids to colonial history. There is a glossary in the back that explains different words your child might not be familiar with.
Cons: None.
Borrow or Buy: Buy. All school and public libraries should have this book. If you orr family love of history or Colonial Williamsburg then you will definitely want this book.
Educational Themes: There are several layers to the story. You can talk about the storyline itself, which opens discussions on compassion, empathy, friendship, and community. But it is also a great age-appropriate way to introduce history to kids. It's light, not preachy or full of memorization facts. The glossary is a great addition, too.
Literary Categories: fiction - picture book, animal stories, historical fiction, US history, Colonial History
Date(s) Reviewed: April 2008
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