What a fun, fun story! Having a horse is a BIG responsibility, as any cowgirl can tell you. She has to protect him from rattlesnakes, she can't forget his birthday, and she must help him write letters to his mother. In turn, he will take her up mountains, down trails, and over rainbows. Author Jean Ekman Adams has successfully coupled short, descriptive sentences with utterly charming southwestern illustrations. Her color palette is as warm and bright as the characters she brings to life.
In addition to providing a fun romp through a day in the life of a pair of good friends, A Cowgirl and Her Horse gives parents and other significant adults the perfect opening for discussing the dreaded topic of PETS. Each page is filled with imperatives: has to, must, and can't, but as the perfect ending reveals with understated affection, when done right, all the hard work that goes with having a pet/pal is well worth it.
Adams' whimsical drawings and tongue-in-cheek phrasing go hand in hand to make this an entertaining learning experience for young readers everywhere.
