FICTION

Calico the Wonder Horse: Christmas Gift Edition

by Virginia Lee BURTON
illus. by Virginia Lee Burton. 64p. HMH. Oct. 2016. Tr $14.99. ISBN 9780547575728.
COPY ISBN
Gr 1–3—First published in 1941, this Western tall tale has been repackaged and repurposed in red and green as a "Christmas classic." The text and striking black-and-white woodcut illustrations are virtually unchanged from the original, though the title has been slightly modified with the omission of "The Saga of the Stewy Stinker" as the subtitle.
VERDICT Though the new format is larger and brighter, this selection is still best read individually or one-on-one because of the intricacy of the panels and the lively language meant for slightly older picture book readers. Also a good gift for historical collections and nostalgic adults.
Reviewed by Madeline J. Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library
While Calico, first published in 1941, always was a Christmas story, the publisher has amped up the holiday appeal by dropping the kid-pleasing subtitle ("Or, The Saga of Stewy Stinker"); adding a new red-foil-accented jacket; and replacing Burton's innovative range of paper colors with just red and green. The tale of a horse who leads a stampede to thwart a holdup and save a stagecoach full of gifts remains delightfully loopy, as do the pictures. roger sutton
New ed., 1941. While Calico, first published in 1941, always was a Christmas story, the publisher has amped up the holiday appeal by adding a red-foil-accented jacket and replacing Burton's innovative range of paper colors with just red and green. The tale of a horse who leads a stampede to thwart a holdup and save a stagecoach full of gifts remains delightfully loopy, as do the pictures.
 , Oct 01, 2016

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