Horsefly. Dieser Artikel ist nicht verfügbar.Horsefly

Afraid of everything until her grandfather gives her a scrawny newborn foal she names Bug, Jewel is delighted to discover Bug's ability to fly and must overcome her fears in order to protect her equine friend from someone who would exploit the horse's talent.

Kindergarten-Grade 3-This fantasy requires a very strong suspension of disbelief. Jewel is given a rejected foal to raise and discovers that it has wings and can fly. Unfortunately, an unscrupulous circus owner sees the horse and steals him. Jewel tracks them down that very same day, finds a costume in order to disguise herself as a circus performer, and by evening not only rescues Bug but also frees the other mistreated horses. The animals return with her to her grandfather's farm, and she and Bug fly happily ever after. Anyone who knows horses and riding may find it hard to enter into this fantasy since it violates so much of what they know. However, it is a story for dreamers and many children will love it for the good-versus-evil conflicts, the exciting events, and Johnson and Fancher's muted paintings that ably illustrate the story. Those who dream of riding on Bug's back and soaring through the clouds probably won't even realize that the plot of a lost animal found and rescued from the circus is hackneyed and trite.
Louise L. Sherman, formerly at Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJ
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.