The Magic Saddle (Knight Books) - Softcover

Ages 4^-8. Originally published in Australia in 1983, this gentle story explores the idea that the best Christmas gifts cannot be bought. A little boy, who longs for a rocking horse for Christmas, is disappointed when he receives a gingerbread horse, lovely though it is, with cherries on its runners, currants for eyes, and a saddle made of icing. As the boy lies in bed, half-dreaming, the cookie reveals its magic powers, and the boy climbs upon the horse's back to be transported far and wide. The next day, as a special treat, the boy goes with his father to the zoo, riding atop Dad's shoulders to see the sights. When images from the dream world reappear, older, perceptive readers will realize that the gift the boy received was already within his grasp. The sentimentality verges on the precious at times, but the torn-paper collages are lively as well as a wonderful match for the story's mood. Shelley Townsend-Hudson

A gingerbread horse serves as magic carpet in the dreams of a poor boy who longs to receive a rocking horse for Christmas. Unfortunately, Mattingly's (The Miracle Tree) mishmash of fantasy, tradition and religion makes for a disjointed and confusing read. Mullins's (V for Vanishing) mixed-media visuals, which inventively combine torn-tissue paper collage, crayon and lino block stamping, serve as a brilliant translation of Mattingly's more descriptive scenes. Ages 4-8.
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