Review by Booklist Review
When Bramble, normally a good horse for riding lessons, becomes contrary and obstinate, Mrs. Blenkinsop realizes that the mare is bored from too much going around in circles and decides to sell her. Bramble tries out two potential new owners before deciding to cooperate with Maggie and going home with her family. Luckily, Maggie tries to see everything from a horse's point of view as she helps Bramble adjust to her new home. A fully illustrated story in four chapters, this transition book could be shelved with either beginning reader books or chapter books. Ranging in size from double-page spreads to small vignettes, the gouache paintings create a distinctive look with pleasant hues, rounded forms, and expressive faces. While enjoying the sometimes amusing insights into Bramble's thoughts, children will empathize with Maggie's attempts to make her new pal happy. An engaging horse story for young chapter-book readers and a good read-aloud choice as well.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-Maggie and her horse, Bramble, are back in another beginning chapter book. With a slightly mischievous, frisky attitude in the cooler fall weather, Bramble takes risks and pretends to be fearful, while Maggie introduces her to the sights and sounds of autumn. Both grow into their partnership and maturity as Bramble overdoes her imitation of anxious jumpiness, thoughtlessly unseats her rider, and finally accepts responsibility and returns home safely. Maggie is back in the saddle again with a final chapter, taking the lead and guiding her horse through a succession of surprises on a dark night of trick-or-treating. Softly colored gouache illustrations illuminate expressions and follow the action from a variety of perspectives and have appropriate visual clues and generous white space for younger readers. Dialogue, Maggie's occasional reflections, and a bit of onomatopoeia allow the narrative text to flow nicely as a trusting relationship develops between horse and rider. A solid addition for general purchase.-Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Bramble has her own ways of communicating. When she gets bored of being a school horse, she goes too fast, or not at all, or else she just lies down and groans. Mrs. Blenkinsop, the instructor, promises to find her a person of her own to have fun with. But no one wants a horse like Bramble, who "has her little ways," as Mrs. Blenkinsop says. No one, that is, until Maggie arrives with her parents. When Bramble tries her tricks, Maggie says, "My mistake. I didn't mean for you to go that fast," or "OopsI didn't mean that slow." Bramble goes home with Maggie, and with a little work the two of them form a partnership. "I have a horse!" Maggie thinks. "And she has me!" The narrative voice in this early chapter book is superb -- direct, succinct, and easy to read for younger horse lovers, but slyly slanted conceptually to encompass both horse and human perspectives. Readers lucky enough to know a horse personally will recognize equine behavior expertly sketched, yet gently articulated as an evolving relationship rather than a good horse/bad horse dichotomy. And the humorous, lightly drawn gouache illustrations of big-eyed horses and their nonplussed riders will evoke emotions familiar to anyone -- adult or child -- who has ever struggled to understand a mount with a mind of its own. anita l. burkam(c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
