STUFFER

A realistic horse-story about the life of a modern-day Black Beauty. Given soon after his birth to a little girl (she names him ``Stocking Stuffer''), the colt grows up to become a jumper and win a wall full of ribbons. When the girl goes away to school, he's sold to a dreary, rundown stable; years later, he's bought by a family with another young girl, and warms again to the remembered experiences of a good home. Parnall's beautifully observed drawings (with just a whisper of color added) capture the horse with the same loving, meticulous care he has devoted to his portrayals of wildlife; no anthropomorphism, but Stuffer's exquisite eyes and ears will speak volumes to young horse-lovers. A quality successor to C. W. Anderson. (Picture book. 5-9)