Rain and the Reading Horse
By (Author) Maria Gianferrari
Illustrated by Hannah Salyer
HarperCollins Publishers Inc
HarperCollins
1st January 2026
United States
Children
Fiction
Childrens / Teenage fiction: Friendship stories
Childrens / Teenage fiction: Nature and animal stories
Childrens / Teenage general interest: Ponies, horses and related animals
Childrens / Teenage personal and social topics: Bullying and harassment
Hardback
40
Width 279mm, Height 203mm
454g
Attention, all horse lovers! Here's a gentle, gorgeously illustrated meditation on the healing power of our relationship with animals and overcoming our fears, for readers ofI Talk Like a RiverandRescue & Jessica.
When a shy young girl attends a school program to read to a horse called Snow, she doesnt know what to expectother than to be nervous about reading aloud. Her words often get stuck, but Snow's calm and reassuring company slowly builds her confidence. Rain and the Reading Horse is a beautiful celebration of a girl's relationship with a horse and the slow but persistent ways we can confront our fears.
(Ancestory) Vivid . . . mesmerizing . . . intriguing . . . How extraordinary that ancient ancestors call out to us from the rocks we see all around. Excellent explanatory backmatter concludes this fascinating book. Kirkus Reviews(starred review) (Ancestory) "Breathtaking illustrations capture the beauty and power of prehistoric artwork with remarkable precision.This luminous picture book about humanitys shared stories is full of discoveries." Booklist (starred review) (Ancestory) "Visually stunning. Afascinating look at a still-unfurling human history." Publishers Weekly (starred review) (Packs: Strength in Numbers) "[An]uplifting, lively picture book that details the various ways a community structure helps a species thrive and survive....Part natural science, part deep ecology, wholly captivating." Kirkus Reviews(starred review) (Packs: Strength in Numbers) "A must-purchase for every collection. Salyer offers a beautiful look at Earths herding creatures." School Library Journal (starred review)
Maria Gianferrari is a picture book reader/writer, dog lover, and bird nerd. She writes books that honor our bonds with creatures both domestic and wild and that celebrate urban ecosystems and the natural world around us. Marias most recent titles include To Dogs, with Love; Fungi Grow; and Thank a Farmer.She lives with her family in Massachusetts, where deer, coyotes, bobcats, bears, and wild turkeys pass through her backyard. Hannah Salyers work, including Packs: Strength in Numbers and Ancestory: The Mystery and Majesty of Ancient Cave Art, has been recognized by American Illustration and the Society of Illustrators and featured in various exhibitions in New York City. Her books have been deemed Gold Standard Selections by the Junior Library Guild. She teaches art to students of all ages, including those at Parsons School of Design, has a ceramics practice, and is cofounder and codirector of Underland Gallery.