I Caballo = My Horse

PreS-Gr 1-In gently rhyming text, a boy tells about his hobbyhorse, made from an old broom, yarn, buttons, and old clothes. He describes his imaginative adventures riding the horse, pretending to be an astronaut and Don Quixote. Now that he is in school, his days are taken up with other things, but he finishes by recounting his joy at being reunited with the horse at the end of the day. He says, ""Soy grande, pero no tantoi""(""I am big now, but not too bigi""). Children who have a favorite toy will identify with the nameless protagonist and enjoy his fantasy play. Talavera's expressive clay illustrations are colorful and detailed, and possess a sense of volume and a feeling of action. Given the simple text, clearly laid out in block capital letters, and the more or less narrative illustrations, this is a sound title for beginning readers and a suitable purchase for libraries and bookstores. Ann Welton, Grant Center for the Expressive Arts, Tacoma, WA