Thunder Horse

A child raises a magical horse and learns about the enduring power of love in this picture book. The narrator is given a tiny white horse, “perfect in every way,” by Aunt Aldora, who wears a bright shawl and bangles, in contrast to the child’s more staidly attired parents. She says that the tiny horse came from a “hidden Greek Island” and cautions the child that, because the horse is magical and “you cannot own magic,” one day, the horse will leave. The child cares for the horse, feeding it and walking it on a leash. After the child hears a teacher read the story of Pegasus in class, the youngster decides that Pegasus is the perfect name for the horse, who has been growing and growing and now sports magnificent wings. Bunting’s assured text is quiet, subtle, and accepting, and Nolan’s delicate and emotive illustrations (all full-color, double-page spreads) add their own peacefulness. They have the look of pastels on colored paper, giving the images a textured, solid feel that is nevertheless dreamlike. The youngster and Pegasus form a strong and loving bond, made poignant by its impermanence. The final pages of the story switch from past tense to the present, allowing readers to understand that the happy, satisfying conclusion will continue. The narrator has long, brown hair and pale skin, as do both parents and Aunt Aldora.  A quiet tale of magic and love with delicate, realistic illustrations. (Picture book. 3-8)

Copyright 2017 Kirkus Reviews, LLC Used with permission.

Preschool-Grade 2. When her aunt Aldora gives her a tiny live horse, a little girl is astonished. Her aunt hints that he is a magical creature who will grow and change and one day will want to leave. Each double-page spread is drawn in watercolors in slightly blurred soft sepia tones that suggest an otherworldly tone. The delineated horse and girl and details glow, as the little horse matures and begins to sprout tiny nubs on his shoulders. When her teacher reads her the Greek myth about Pegasus, the winged horse, the girl looks for the thunder horse’s constellation in the night sky. One day Pegasus invites her to ride upon his back into the sky, “like riding through a dream . . . wrapped in magic.” One day her thunder horse does fly away, off into an azure firmament; later, the girl is comforted by a shooting star, convinced it is her beloved horse. In the glorious final spread, horse and girl fly once again, as the last half page illuminates the Pegasus constellation.

Copyright 2017 Booklist, LLC Used with permission.

When an aunt gives her niece, the narrator, a tiny white horse, the girl and the horse she names Pegasus form a bond. But even as Pegasus grows, develops wings, and takes the girl on nighttime flights, she knows that "you cannot own magic." Hazy, richly colored paintings add a dreamlike quality to an otherwise ponderous tale of loving and letting go.

Copyright 2018 Hornbook, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 2-4-- In this long picture book, Bunting writes the story of a girl who is gifted a tiny horse by her mysterious aunt. Acquired in Greece, the tiny horse comes with the warning that one day it will change and eventually leave the little girl. The horse lives with the girl in her apartment where she feeds him, walks him, and even takes him to school. As the horse grows, he begins to develop wings. The girl names him Pegasus and is thrilled when he eventually allows her to ride him through the night. One day, the girl realizes that Pegasus is ready to leave, and sadly she watches him fly off into the night, becoming a shining star in the vast sky. With gorgeous soft pastel illustrations, this is a gentle story of love, letting go, and believing that magic still exists in the world. VERDICT For more confident readers, or to be shared as a longer read-aloud, this is a lovely general purchase for most libraries.-- Jasmine L. Precopio, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh