Kate and Pippin- an Unlikely Love Story (Children's Book Review)

Kate & Pippin 

An Unlikely Love Story

Author:  Martin Springett

Published: February 28, 2012

Publisher: Penguin

Pages:  32

Format:  Hardcover

ISBN 9780670065974

Kids - Reference/Pets ages 9-12

Source:  I borrowed a copy

THE STORY

"Pippin, a helpless baby fawn was abandoned by her mother on the property of Isobel Springett. Isobel's Great Dane, Kate, adopted Pippin immediately and they have been best friends ever since.

The story of Kate's and Pippin's loving relationship is charmingly chronicled in a handsome book featuring the beautiful photography of Isobel Springett." (http://www.kateandpippin.com/index.html)

My Review:

Kate and Pippin is the story of unlikely friendships that endure time and differences. Oddly, this is the story of an orphaned fawn who is befriended by a female Great Dane. Mothered by the giant dog, bottle fed by the dog's owner, this little fawn named Pippin grew up not knowing she was different.  She was loved and played with and cared for and she grew up under the loving eye of an enormous dog named Kate.

http://www.kateandpippin.com/index.html

Touching in its infinite wisdom, Kate and Pippin demonstrates to all children and people everywhere that differences don't matter. Friendships can endure distance and differences.  This book is based upon the true story of Kate and Pippin. The author visited Kate and Pippin with his sister, who collaborated in presenting the story for the book, and recorded this endearing story for all to share in the marvel of this unlikely friendship.

Recommended for ages 9-12 and for parents to read to children of all ages.  The lessons learned from Kate and Pippin are timeless and ageless.

About the Author and Photographer:

Equestrian and photographer Isobel Springett has been documenting the unlikely love story of Kate and Pippin for over two years. She lives in the Comox Valley, British Columbia, with her husband and son.

Martin Springett is an author, illustrator and musician who has won numerous awards for his illustrations, including two Aurora Awards for Artistic Achievement. He lives in Toronto.

War Horse - book reviewed at long last

War Horse
Author:  Michael Morpurgo
Published:  First published in the UK in 1982, this edition published 2011 by Egmont UK Limited
Pages:  182
ISBN 9781405259415
Genre:  fiction (YA, children)
Source:  I own this copy

Separated by war,

Tested by battle,

Bound by friendship.

A powerful tale of war, redemption, and a hero's journey--now available in paperback!

In 1914, Joey, a beautiful bay-red foal with a distinctive cross on his nose, is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of the war on the Western Front. With his officer, he charges toward the enemy, witnessing the horror of the battles in France. But even in the desolation of the trenches, Joey's courage touches the soldiers around him and he is able to find warmth and hope. But his heart aches for Albert, the farmer's son he left behind. Will he ever see his true master again? (from Barnes & Noble)

My review:  

After all the hype on this blog (here, here, and here) about War Horse, I have finally read the book!  True, I was enamoured with the prospect of the film by Steven Spielberg and the video clips I found of the theatre production astounded me, and the interview with the author, Michael Morpurgo reinforced my desire to read the book.  Finally, this weekend, Friday evening and Saturday morning, I sat down with it and immersed myself in the tale of the famous horse, Joey, and his journeys through the war, separated by time and space from his beloved Albert.  I love that it is written from Joey's perspective!  Another favourite of mine, Black Beauty, remains so still and I am sure it is because the story is told from the perspective of the horse.  (I am a horse lover, after all).  Michael Morpurgo descriptively shares the devastation of war, the English countryside, the love of horse and master(s), and the story that twines it all together.  One can easily imagine the cold and brutal weather, the sucking mud, the fire of rifles and cannons that penetrate the air.  In all this, one horse and one boy persevere, desperate to find each other again.  

War Horse is action packed (though not gory), touching, and illustrative of a master's hand at work.  War Horse is one of those too few books that boys and girls alike will read and enjoy, adults too.  It can be read in one sitting, though I spread it over two.  War Horse is a fabulous timeless story that is sure to become one of your favourites, particularly if you are a horse lover, like me.

Rated 4.5/5 Recommended for ages 10 and up.  Boys and girls.  Adults too.

Review: Horse Sayings: wit & wisdom straight from the horse's mouth by Bradford G. Wheler

Horse Sayings:  wit & wisdom straight from the horse's mouth
Author:  Bradford G. Wheler
Publisher:  BookCollaborative.com
Publication Date:  September 1, 2011
Pages:  136
Illustrations by 61 artists from 11 countries
ISBN 978 0 9822538 3 0
Available for purchase from www.BookCollaborative.com, Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, or by order through any bookstore in the US, UK, Canada and Australia

“HORSE SAYINGS: wit & wisdom straight from the horse’s mouth” is an exciting and vibrant collection of equine art and text designed to celebrate horses and the people that love them."

In Horse Sayings:  wit & wisdom straight from the horse's mouth, Bradford Wheler compiled a lovely book of illustrations, paintings and photographs that will delight any horse lover.  Accompanying each illustration/photo are quotes related to the love of horses.  From individuals such as the Queen Mother, Winston Churchill, Will Rogers and Benjamin Franklin, there is wit and wisdom and tribute to the equines.  Here is a small sampling:

"There is something about riding down the street on a prancing horse that makes you feel like something, even when you ain't a thing."   ~  Will Rogers (1879 - 1935)

"All you need for happiness is a good gun, a good horse, and a good wife."  ~  Daniel Boone (1819 - 1880)

"To many, the words love, hope, and dreams are synonymous with horses."  ~  Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.  (1809 - 1894)

Bradford G. Wheler established BookCollaborative.com to publish books that will show case artists.  Though I would love to see Horse Sayings... in a larger coffee table format, as its content would be incredibly well -suited to such, the author notes that due to the cost of printing colour books with Lightening Source Inc.'s on demand system is almost six times more expensive as black and white, thus limiting the size and number of pages included in each of the books published by BookCollaborative.com.  Perhaps as the technology becomes more advanced, price will decrease thus increasing the flexibility afforded to publications such as this one, allowing books of larger format and more content at an affordable price point.

Besides wanting a larger format, my one criticism is the cover.  I would love to see a different background colour for the cover as the artwork featured there would be better showcased on a contrasting rather than a complementary colour.  Perhaps the aid of a graphic designer would help to produce an eye catching cover that will beckon all horse lovers to purchase Horse Sayings: wit & wisdom straight from the horse's mouth.

As an avid horse lover, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this book and yearned for more when I was done. This book will be a keepsake that will beckon reading and rereading and will earn its permanent position on the bookshelf.