PICTURE BOOK REVIEWS: Snow Horses by Patricia MacLachlan & Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening illustrated by P.J. Lynch
Snow Horses follows the celebration of New Year's Day by sleigh ride. Jenny hitches up her beautiful black Percheron horses to a large sleigh and takes people for a ride. First, a group of children enjoy a ride around town, followed by a golden dog. Afterwards, Jenny and the horses take a group of older people for a ride as well, before returning to the barn for a good rub down and lump of sugar. The book radiates joy and celebration and memories. It reminded me of the hayrides I used to enjoy when I was younger, not in a sleigh, but in a wagon. MacLachlan's text flows beautifully and works well for reading out loud. And Archer's stunning collage illustrations are well worth taking time to study closely. The illustrations are amazing. I loved this book, not only for the great writing and illustrations, but for the memories and the joy that it radiates.
There is a reason this poem by Robert Frost is so well-known. Not only is it a beautiful poem full of imagery and natural wonder, there's even a touch of humor. It's also been illustrated a number of times. But P. J. Lynch has hit it out of the park with his incredible illustrations in this version. A young lady rides her horse through the woods where she stops to enjoy the peace and beauty of the falling snow. Not only do Lynch's illustrations highlight the beauty of freshly falling snow, but he also conveys a sweet relationship between the woman and her horse. This book is, in my opinion, a work of art, in both text and picture.
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