THE HALLOWED HORSE

by Demi--Adapt. & Illus. ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 7, 1987

A well-known illustrator, with a reputation for her delicate, Chinese-inspired illustrations for texts with Chinese origins, retells an Indian legend concerning a magic horse that vanquishes evil in tie form of an army of snakes. A pure white foal, raised in obscurity by a kindly potter, is identified as the Hallowed Horse by the 12 royal astrologers who have long sought him--just before the predicted invasion of Kalya the Multi-Headed Snake with his army of 500 mounted snakes; fortunaturely, the white horse is the tree leader of these 500 horses, who throw and trample their riders, thus bringing victory and peace. Demi has made striking use of the red end of the spectrum--pink, purple, orange--in a series of borders featuring tiny galloping horses. Her brightly colored fine-line pen drawings are full of decorative detail and graceful event; but her long-lashed animal characters will be too cute and coy for some tastes, and here seem to trivialize the story of a horse ""endowed by the angels above with wisdom and courage, majesty and victory""--as does the informal use of the second person. Still, although there is no suspense--events proceed unimpeded to the conclusion--the story is unusual, and the idea of the savior horse attractive.

Pub Date: Dec. 7, 1987

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Dodd, Mead

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 1987

Categories: CHILDREN'S