Scan barcode
allicatca's review against another edition
4.0
I read this aloud at bedtime to my 5- and 7-year-old children. For the most part, the story captured their imagination but it definitely lagged from time to time. I wish I could have edited the book to make it a little shorter. Overall, the writing was good and the little wooden horse had quite an adventure with many travels and meeting other horses and many different types of people.
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
Classic tale I felt uncomfortable with, but appealing characters and adventures for children.
A classic author I've read before, but not a title I knew. I picked it up on a whim. This will have appeal for today's readers who like episodic tales with a slow-burn story of 'all comes right in the end' after many trials.
My discomfort with the book stemmed from the abuse of the little horse, his own downright pigheaded disposition to work himself into the ground for money for his maker (who, really, might not show him the same loyalty!) and the oft-repeated pattern (see Rudyard Kipling's 'If') of losing all his (hard-earned) money and having to begin again. The injustice made me anxious!
The structure is very traditional and reminiscent of other fairy tales, such as Pinocchio. The Little Wooden Horse (never given any other name) is created but for one reason or another finds himself alone in the world and moving ever further away from home, but hopes to return soon having earned a fortune to keep himself and his 'master' living in comfort. Like Black Beauty finding good owners and bad, the Horse meets tyrants and kindhearted humans, works himself to the (wooden) bone, sustains damage, is ill-used and repaired, and travels far and wide seeing the best and worst of mankind as he struggles to find his way home.
It's simply told, which makes me feel that given a fresh jacket and typeface it will appeal to primary-aged readers still. Besides some talk of old money and a few words and scenes that may need a little explanation of their context, it's a good, old-fashioned epic of a children's story.
For ages 7 - 10.
A classic author I've read before, but not a title I knew. I picked it up on a whim. This will have appeal for today's readers who like episodic tales with a slow-burn story of 'all comes right in the end' after many trials.
My discomfort with the book stemmed from the abuse of the little horse, his own downright pigheaded disposition to work himself into the ground for money for his maker (who, really, might not show him the same loyalty!) and the oft-repeated pattern (see Rudyard Kipling's 'If') of losing all his (hard-earned) money and having to begin again. The injustice made me anxious!
The structure is very traditional and reminiscent of other fairy tales, such as Pinocchio. The Little Wooden Horse (never given any other name) is created but for one reason or another finds himself alone in the world and moving ever further away from home, but hopes to return soon having earned a fortune to keep himself and his 'master' living in comfort. Like Black Beauty finding good owners and bad, the Horse meets tyrants and kindhearted humans, works himself to the (wooden) bone, sustains damage, is ill-used and repaired, and travels far and wide seeing the best and worst of mankind as he struggles to find his way home.
It's simply told, which makes me feel that given a fresh jacket and typeface it will appeal to primary-aged readers still. Besides some talk of old money and a few words and scenes that may need a little explanation of their context, it's a good, old-fashioned epic of a children's story.
For ages 7 - 10.
mat_tobin's review against another edition
2.0
This was a quaint book but very much of its time (1938). There is much related to servitude and best behaviour as a reward against slovenliness and mean-spiritedness. Each chapter sees the little wooden horse overcome some adversity through his strength, determination and humble character. As with many biblical stories, the horse can be seen to represent the prodigal son who returns home with wealth, assurity and an ability to support for those he loves.
ashleylm's review against another edition
4.0
As an adult, I had to set aside my normal standards for fantasy (why is he animate, why can he talk, why can other toys and animals talk, why does human society consider this normal, how can he be faster/stronger than an actual horse, etc. etc. etc.), and assume that if it were read to me when I was a child, I'd have had no problem with it.
This is rather a harrowing book, more like Black Beautythan Raggedy Ann—this horse suffers, and suffers greatly. He is despondent for much of the book, tortured, or tortures himself. He's often rewarded for his efforts, but these rewards are usually short-lived. It was hard to take in a single sitting (I read it yesterday afternoon while supervising a lengthy kids' homework session).
But I rooted for the little wooden horse. I was invested. The author made me care. So I persisted through to the end (thank goodness, there's a happy ending, no Little Mermaid or Velveteen Rabbit trauma to endure). If I were to read it aloud, I'd do one chapter a night, with frequent reassurings of "don't worry, it'll all work out in the end," to sensitive children.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
This is rather a harrowing book, more like Black Beautythan Raggedy Ann—this horse suffers, and suffers greatly. He is despondent for much of the book, tortured, or tortures himself. He's often rewarded for his efforts, but these rewards are usually short-lived. It was hard to take in a single sitting (I read it yesterday afternoon while supervising a lengthy kids' homework session).
But I rooted for the little wooden horse. I was invested. The author made me care. So I persisted through to the end (thank goodness, there's a happy ending, no Little Mermaid or Velveteen Rabbit trauma to endure). If I were to read it aloud, I'd do one chapter a night, with frequent reassurings of "don't worry, it'll all work out in the end," to sensitive children.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
caffeinated_bookaholic's review against another edition
4.0
super cute old-fashionty fiction promoting hard work and family and all that. it made me sad as a small one because people were mean to him, though, so that's why it's only four stars.
lubleu's review against another edition
Got bored. Put it down and now have zero inclination to continue.
bybookandbone's review against another edition
5.0
Ok, I never read this book myself but it was read to my class by our teacher. One chapter a day. I may be remembering this book nostalgically but I loved it. It's one of my fondest memories and according to my 5 year old self, much better than Pinocchio.
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review against another edition
5.0
Old children’s stories tend to veer toward the sappy so I was very worried about reading this one. No worries. Williams never even ventured into that territory; instead, she created the character of the little wooden horse so real yet so gently brave and daringly courageous that I would put him up on my list of Favorite Book Characters. I must obtain a copy of this book for my library. A 1001 CBYMRBYGU.
mat_tobin's review against another edition
2.0
This was a quaint book but very much of its time (1938). There is much related to servitude and best behaviour as a reward against slovenliness and mean-spiritedness. Each chapter sees the little wooden horse overcome some adversity through his strength, determination and humble character. As with many biblical stories, the horse can be seen to represent the prodigal son who returns home with wealth, assurity and an ability to support for those he loves.
More...