Catch a Winner

This short horse story revolves around three loosely related events: the birth of the foal Catch a Winner; the near-drowning and rescue of a mare; and a visit to a ranch by a class of schoolchildren, where they see mares and foals and watch the foreman perform rope tricks. Any one of these mild, minor episodes could have provided the subject matter for a picture book. Unfortunately, because the adventures are crowded together and somewhat carelessly narrated, the text lacks sparkle or resonance. Many of the illustrations are quite appealing--Peacock's perky mares and foals are reminiscent of Wesley Dennis's classic horse drawings. The pictures of people, on the other hand, are stiff and old-fashioned, giving the book a dated look. Ages 7-10. (May)