Review by Booklist Review
In this quiet collection of haiku, the poems feature horses observed within nature, but also in relation to the people who care for them and ride them. Divided into three sections, In the Field, At the Barn, and In Saddle, the selections often engage the senses most often sight (dappled gray mare stoops / to graze, the dappled gray dawn / her saddle blanket), but sometimes hearing or touch (above the fence rails / felt-soft muzzle, snuffled puffs / lips flutter your palm). Rosen's previous books of poetry include The Cuckoo's Haiku and Other Birding Poems (2009), The Hound Dog's Haiku and Other Poems for Dog Lovers (2011), and The Maine Coon's Haiku (2015). Full of light and shadows, the impressionistic watercolor-and-pencil illustrations capture the reflective tone of the verse. Occasionally they also clarify the literal meaning of a poem, enhancing the experience for young readers. This handsome volume of verse will resonate with poetry lovers who dream of horses.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In their fourth book of animal haiku, which began with 2009's The Cuckoo's Haiku, Rosen and Fellows pair crisp, contemplative haiku with sumptuous watercolors that reflect the strength and beauty of horses, as well as the bond between the animals and the humans who care for them. Rosen divides his work into three sections ("In the Field," "At the Barn," "In Saddle"), dwelling on small moments and observations that, together, create a composite portrait of horses' lives. As a slash of black cuts across a winter field, "snowfall whitens all/ but two darks: unfrozen stream/ and horses huddled." In a cozier image, a skewball horse is shown in profile in a barn: "dozing familiars:/ mare settled in her stall, cat/ balanced on her rump." It's a majestic collection that should leave readers spellbound, especially those devoted to horses themselves. Ages 6-9. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-5-Rosen pens contemplative reflections on horses in this book, organized into three sections: "In the Field," "At the Barn," and "In Saddle." "In the Field" begins with a horse's birth, and the haiku is told from a horse's point of view, while "At the Barn" and "In Saddle" reflect on human experiences with horses and use a second-person viewpoint. This added perspective is a nice touch and complements the theme of the relationship between people and nature: "daybreak, low tide-flash/of sunbeams between saddle/and posting rider." All of the haiku holds to the syllabic pattern, which is reminiscent of a horse's gait and works well with the overall theme. Fellows's watercolor illustrations reflect seasonal and time changes and depict a lot of movement and expression effortlessly. The artwork even conveys more dramatic moments with ease such as a horse leaping over a hedge. The poems all work together but can also stand alone. VERDICT A beautifully illustrated collection of haiku for fans of horses and poetry.-Ellen Conlin, Naperville Public Library, IL © Copyright 2018. 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
Spare and contemplative horse haiku are arranged into three sections: "In the Field," "At the Barn," and "Under Saddle." Each evocative poem captures a particular moment or impression: horses huddled against the snow, a tail twitching away a fly, a horse cantering prettily around a ring. Fellows's watercolor and pencil illustrations in earthy colors perfectly sketch the allure of horses. "A note on the haiku" is appended. (c) Copyright 2019. 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
A collection of haiku with a horse theme is paired with watercolors in this picture book.The evocative haiku are loosely organized into three groups: "In the Field," "At the Barn," and "In Saddle," with an afterword by author Rosen that explains his creative intent and inspiration in drawing parallels between the horse and the haiku. Each of Rosen's poems, in proper haiku tradition, captures a momentary impression, and the collection adds up not so much to a storyline as an evocation of place and emotion. Readers who are familiar with horses will feel the full impact, such as the horse's steaming back when the saddle is removed, although many other haiku are just as effective for readers who must use imagination only. Illustrator Fellows' richly rendered watercolors are the perfect match, since they too exhibit the expertise and close observation inherent in the haiku. They are done in an earthy palette of greens, blues, browns, and yellows with the occasional dab of bright blue or red, and Fellows' use of the white paper for highlight and delineation is as masterful as it is deceptively simple. Pencil lines are unabashedly left in, as are drawn-in details that are left without color, reinforcing the illustrations' fresh, spontaneous feel.Altogether a fresh and masterful contribution to the genres of both haiku and horse. (Picture book/poetry. 8-14) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
