  | Rain and the reading horse Author: Gianferrari, Maria | |
| Price: $23.98 | ||
Summary:
When a shy, young girl attends a school program to read to a horse called Snow, she doesn't know what to expect--other than to be nervous about reading aloud. Her words often get stuck but Snow's calm and reassuring company slowly builds her confidence.
| Illustrator: | Salyer, Hannah |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (08/01/25)
School Library Journal (10/01/25)
Booklist (00/10/25)
Full Text Reviews:
Other - 07/14/2025 It’s with trepidation that bespectacled young Rain, portrayed with pale skin, arrives at a stable to participate in school program Giddy-Up and Read. Rain pictures the jeering faces of classmates who "stare and make her feel small inside," but Snow, the beautiful white horse she reads to, proves an attentive and nonjudgmental listener, "ears twitching, tail swishing." When "the words get stuck," Rain turns to physical activities and sensations-mucking the stall, feeding and grooming Snow-that help to center her. Gradually, she builds confidence and familiarity, repeating the book’s lines while she works, and eventually reading the entire work to her equine companion: "She felt the up and down rhythm of riding and words," writes Gianferrari (Thank a Farmer), and "her heart beat as steady as the sound of Snow’s hooves." Impressionistic colored pencil and chalk pastel artwork by Salyer (Ancestory) echoes the narrative’s empathy as flowing, swirling layers of translucent color evoke healing and growth, deepening the impact of a hopeful story rooted in change slowly wrought. Creators’ notes conclude. Ages 4-8. Author’s agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Kirsten Hall, Catbird Productions. (Oct.) - Copyright 2025
School Library Journal - 10/01/2025 K-Gr 3—Gianferrari's new picture book explores the way a bond with a horse named Snow helps alleviate a child's anxiety. The main character, Rain, gradually overcomes her fear about reading aloud through the care and companionship with a gentle horse in an after-school reading program. Salyer's exceptionally beautiful illustrations enhance the narrative, helping to show Rain's emotional life in visual form; soft pencil and chalk in vibrant colors capture her experience. Spare words, repetition, and measured pacing reveal a child's journey from anxiety to calm and confidence. VERDICT Children will enjoy this sensitive and nuanced story focused on social and emotional themes.—Mari Pongkhamsing - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
