Hush, Little Horsie

PreS—In this gentle picture book, a variety of mares stand guard as their foals and fillies play, run, leap, and finally sleep. From farmyards to the plains to the seashore to the moors, the horses are introduced in simple rhyme. In each case, readers are reassured that the mothers will always take care of their babies and the final lines, "she'll watch when you leap/And when you are tired,/She'll watch as your sleep," are repeated at the end of each section. The book ends with a human mother and her daughter nestled beneath blankets at bedtime, reading stories and preparing for sleep. The girl drifts off, content with the knowledge that her mother is close and will always stand watch as she sleeps. Sanderson's lush and lovely paintings are an ideal match for the reflective text. With text and illustrations as tender as a lullaby, this picture book is ideal for bedtime sharing.—Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WI