|
DWalters said: A Horse Named Special--Instant Smiles
Each page of this book has a little poem to match the bright, colorful artwork. The little rhymes are so much fun to read that I found myself eager to keep turning the pages—each one bringing another smile to my face. But, pretty pictures and clever rhymes are not all this book has to offer. There is a powerful message of hope and happiness with a certain can-do attitude to build the confidence of any child.
Special is a type of horse like many of the service dogs and other service animals. He gives rides to all types of people as a form of therapy. Some have physical disabilities and some have problems in other areas of their life to deal with. The relationship between rider and horse is an empowering one: bringing new skills in the mastery of horsemanship, which can be life changing when normal physical limitations or emotional issues are continually a challenge to manage on a daily basis.
Page after page, the book shows the accomplishments and the self-assurance this type of therapy can provide for people. Even Special has a huge life-hurdle to master, and he comes through the problem just fine through excellent care, hard work and patience.
Overall, I found the book delightful, encouraging, and even at the end I was left with a feeling of empowerment and well-being. The little rhymes are still playing in my head, which makes me smile every time I think about them. I think this book is great fun and a wonderful book for a child of any age.
I’d like to thank Kathy Brodsky for the lovely copy of her book in exchange for my honest review.
tags: Children's Fiction, Therapy Horses, Disability, , I illustrated, I read, Inspired me |
