Horse's Tale: A Colonial Williamsburg Adventure Book

In association with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Readers will make new friends as they learn about colonial America.

Garrick the Gardener’s horse is sad, so the town of Williamsburg rallies to try to cheer him up! Margaret the Milliner sews a counterpane for the horse’s back, and Ben the Blacksmith checks the horseshoes to make sure they aren’t on too tight. The grocer mixes oats and sugar, the apothecary stirs a special brew, and the music teacher even sings a happy song. But nothing lifts the horse’s spirits until they all discover that friendship is the best cure.

A fun way for children to learn about life in colonial times, A Horse’s Tale includes a glossary that highlights period words and terms and features the adorable characters first created as plush toys by Merrymakers, Inc. Young readers will take a step back in time to Colonial Williamsburg as they meet a group of friends they will want to make their own.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1- Several residents of Colonial Williamsburg do their best to find out what is ailing Garrick the Gardener's horse. In a rhyming text, the characters are introduced and briefly described in terms of how they try to help the animal. The blacksmith checks its shoes, the milliner sews a blanket, the apothecary makes a special brew, etc. Through it all, the town crier acts as narrator, summing up the action. A glossary goes into more detail about the jobs, items, and places found in this colonial settlement. The watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations depict all of the participants as cheerful cuddly animals who talk and dress as people. The two horses in the story, however, do not talk and do not have clothes. That lack of consistency probably will not bother the intended audience, nor will the conclusion that Lancer needs a friend and will be happier pulling the gardener's cart if Mary the mare comes along, too. This book would make a nice introduction to Williamsburg for very young visitors.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA