  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 10/01/2010 K-Gr 3—This picture book briefly introduces readers to the history of horse transportation in urban areas and then describes the current activities of Kensington Stables, in Brooklyn, NY. Small children take their first pony rides there, older children cross the street on horseback to take riding lessons in the nearby park, those with special needs participate in a therapeutic riding program, and wedding parties hire carriages for their special day. Lewin also introduces the stable staff (the owner, riding instructor, and farrier), as well as the horses themselves. The narrative ends on a mournful note, questioning how long the stable will remain amid ongoing development in the neighborhood. The author relates the Kensington story in a spare, straightforward style that readers will find approachable. Realistic watercolor illustrations—first in sepia tones for historical times and then in color for the present day—show the operations of the stable with warmth and energy. A final yearbook-style montage depicts each horse. Though this book will be of special interest in Brooklyn and the surrounding areas, it has broader appeal. Suggest it for history or transportation units, horse-crazy readers, and families looking for a gentle introduction to nonfiction.—Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI - Copyright 2010 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 10/15/2010 This large-format picture book opens outside a Brooklyn stable in the late 1800s, when horses pulled carriages, trolleys, and fire engines as well as wagons carrying milk, ice, and produce through city streets. Fast-forward to today’s Brooklyn, where the old Kensington stable still stands. Sepia-toned paintings depicting bygone days give way to the sun-dappled watercolors illustrating the modern stable at work, its horses used for trail rides, lessons, and pulling carriages. This unusual offering gives a vivid sense of the passage of time. Even the present-day paintings seem to capture the essence of a particular moment before it slips away, and the book raises the question of how long the stable will remain. Beautiful in their use of light and shadow, Lewin’s paintings mesh well with the simply written tex. Great for horse fans, from the appealing jacket art to the final pages giving the names and “head shot” portraits of dozens of horses and ponies. - Copyright 2010 Booklist. Loading...
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