Ancient Thunder

The love of wild horses, their mythic qualities and their significance for the native people of the Great Plains resonates in this unusual and gorgeously illustrated work. The watercolor and gouache on "watercolor paper treated to give it the appearance of leather," depicts clothing reminiscent of the traditional garb of the Plains Indians. The very brief text appears to be addressed to the horses: "At the rise of the strawberry moon / To hooves of ancient thunder / In the tall grass, born / To run with the first sparkles of new daylight. . . . " There is no plot. The text concludes, "Beating the earth drum / Carrying man / On hooves of ancient thunder." Dazzling multi-colored horses in the flat style of ledger books, leap and fly both on and behind the fringed leather clothing, and occasionally prance into the white space beyond the pictures' edges. Although the words are simple, the syntax is difficult. The glorious art, however, will pull readers in and hold them. (Picture book. 4-7)