Snow Horses: A First Night Story

Evocative artwork and gentle prose from the creators of Prairie Days distinguish this intergenerational tale about a community that celebrates the last night of the year with sleigh rides for young and old. Tim and Tom, the black Percheron horses who pull the sleigh, "love winter./ They love the snow." Young Jenny, a child portrayed with brown skin, hitches them up, then takes the reins as "sleigh bells sing." Archer shows a bird's-eye view of the sleigh crossing a snowy field, a final splash of sunset splendor across the horizon behind them. The community's children and adults, portrayed with varied skin tones, appear amid lacy ink and paper-collage landscapes rich with patterns and warm hues. First, the children ride through the sparkling town before bed; then, "grandmothers,/ grandfathers,/ aunts and uncles,/ and longtime friends" take a turn, remembering their own youths. Text by the late MacLachlan captures incidents others might miss ("A little golden dog comes out to run alongside/ the horses--a beacon in the dark"), and the rhythm of the lines lulls while conveying pleasure and excitement. It's a celebratory winter story that many can share. Ages 4-8. (Nov.)

Gr 1-3—The late, great MacLachlan offers a quiet pastoral celebration of New Year's Eve. It is the last night of the year and Tim and Tom, two Percheron horses with gleaming black coats, are excited to be a part of the celebration. First, they head to the market where they pull children around the town in a colorful sleigh. Then, they head to the manor house where they pull grandparents, aunts, uncles, and old friends through the snowy fields. The children and adults are varying skin colors, and one woman is shown wearing a hijab. The blue-hued illustrations transport readers into serene scenery filled with snow. While each scene is washed in cool tones, the lights in the illustrations seem to glow. The details of the collage illustrations are fabulously detailed and intricate, with the clothing on the characters showing many unique patterns. The lacy paper details as snow on the trees are particularly beautiful. VERDICT A sweet, careful book. For communities seeking a unique take on New Year's Eve.—V. Lynn Christiansen