Note: I received an F&G of this book at an ALA conference. ( )

Mary Pope Osbourne conveys the central message of “adventure is out there” and imagination in her book, Moonhorse. This story of a little girl, her dad, and her moonhorse in which she sets out for a night’s adventure.

I liked this book because the main character is developed to be curious, adventurous, and courageous as she sets off for the moon. Her character and her desires can be admired by young readers. Another reason that I liked this book is that beginning of the story and the end of the story are parallel in how they involve the girl and her dad. Throughout this book there was also the use of dialogue as the girl conversated with her father and her moonhorse. This allows readers to get an idea of perspective. ( )

This simple children's picture book about a girl who wishes upon a star after her dad drifts to sleep and a Moonhorse appears and they fly through the sky seeing the constellations and towing the moon across the night until it is time for her to return home. This book can be used to talk about constellations, because many are mentioned but never named so teachers can use it to help teach about constellations. The genre is fantasy so teachers can explain what that means and they can talk about how this situation couldn't happen in real life but in fantasy or in dreams it could. It can also be used in a very young classroom if there is a naptime to help calm them down. Mostly though I believe this is a bedtime story that parents can read to their children. The illustrations are paintings that evoke a soft, dreamy feeling using dark muted colors because of the nighttime setting. ( )

A young girl, sitting with her dozing father on their front porch one evening, finds herself embarking on a fantastic celestial voyage, when she is borne aloft on the back of the winged Moonhorse. Landing on stars, lassoing the moon, and touring the constellations, girl and steed see many of the wonders of the heavens, before returning home, to Earth...

This magical night-time adventure really appealed to me, visually speaking, with soft-toned illustrations that perfectly capture the luminescent beauty of the moonhorse, and the dark enchantment of the cosmos. I can't say I was as impressed with the text, which struck me as being rather stiff - almost like a series of statements, strung together, rather than a smooth-flowing story. Still, as an invitation to consider the wonders of the sky, or simply as a child's fantasy about flying, The Moonhorse makes for an appealing selection, over all. ( )

This book is perfection! It is a dreamy and exhilarating combination of beautifully evocative artwork and imaginative, spare, yet poetic text. A little girl rocking on the front porch with her dad one starry summer night wishes on a star and the constellation Pegasus comes to life as a huge white horse with powerful milk-white wings and a flying mane and takes her on an adventure through the constellations. The atmosphere of the darkness, the whispy night clouds, the stars and the stillness completely transports one. The balance between the magical fantasy of the moonhorse and the natural and grounded personality of the child combine in a subtle way to make this fantastic journey happily believable. ( )