Scamper and the Horse Show
Greenwillow Books, 2004 £8.65
Rating:  «««««

I loved this. It's an affectionate, and funny, portrayal of a pony you could walk into any yard and find. Scamper is aimed at slightly older children. Molly and Anna are taking their pony, Scamper, to a show. Scamper, however, has his own ideas of how things should be. I love the economy and wit with which Jessie Haas lets us know just what sort of pony Scamper is:
 

"Tomorrow is the horse show. Today we're washing Scamper. First we have to catch him. 'Mom!' "

Just a few words in and we know Scamper, and we know who is really in charge of things equine in this family.

The story builds beautifully (and unexpectedly - I had the payoff completely wrong). If you're British, don't be put off by the fact the classes and even the colour of the ribbons (rosettes) are unfamiliar: it's immediately apparent from the story what is going on, and there is another another excellent article at the end explaining all, so you too will know what Trail and Pleasure classes are.
 

Jessie Haas - more picture books

Sugaring
Greenwillow Books, 1997 £10.99
Rating:  «««««

Sugaring is less obviously horsey: it's a description of a girl, Nora, collecting maple sap with her grandfather and two draft horses. It took me right back to reading about the Bobsey Twins in the 1960s: I was fascinated by the whole maple syrup business.
 

Again beautifully illustrated, by Jos. A. Smith this time, it is a gentle tale: it gives you the feeling of someone sitting back and remembering each tiny detail with deep pleasure. I don't know if this is one of Jessie Haas' own childhood memories (she is a Vermonter), but the story certainly has that magical quality of something wonderful remembered. I took it with me to read again as I waited for the children's train. Even sitting in the grey tarmac landscape of Wellingborough Station car park, I could smell the maple syrup and hear the horses' harness. Lovely.