The Glass Horse of Venice
Arnold Zable, Anita Lester (illus.)
The Glass Horse of Venice
Arnold Zable, Anita Lester (illus.)
Each morning on her way to school Claudia passes the glassblower's workshop and admires the animals in the window, especially the winged horses, prancing, galloping, rearing in battle. One day the glassblower calls Claudia inside and gives her a damaged horse. It is beautiful, but its wings are broken. And Claudia sees only its imperfection.
When a terrible storm floods their home, Claudia and her family have to leave. The glass horse is packed away, all but forgotten. Until one night it comes to life. And takes Claudia flying through the night sky, back to her beloved Venice.
Arnold Zable's picture story book The Glass Horse of Venice, sumptuously illustrated by Anita Lester, is a tale of the power of imagination that will delight children young and not so young.
Review
Claire Atherfold
Arnold Zable, the author of the Australian classic Café Scheherazade, has teamed up with talented Melbourne illustrator Anita Lester to create his first, magical picture book.
It’s set in Venice, on the ethereal waters surrounded by the wonder of the canals and boats, buildings and bridges. This is where we discover Claudia, as she races to her favourite spot in the city: the glassblower’s workshop window.
There she finds a menagerie of animals, all flawlessly brought to life in rainbows of light and glass. She admires the winged horses the most and imagines them, along with the other animals, exploring the winding streets beyond the window where they live.
The glassblower gives Claudia one of the winged horses, telling her that one day she may discover its secrets. But the gifted horse is broken, missing its wings. Claudia longs for a complete horse, not seeing the beauty in her horse’s imperfection.
But one day, as the sun sets, she remembers the little broken glass horse and with the power of imagination they learn to soar together. This is a luminous story, rendered with glorious imagery, for ages 3+.
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