Lured by the wind, a little horse runs off to explore his farm and the nearby seashore before returning to the safety of his parents. The leaving-the-nest sentimentality is more for parents than for children, and the onomatopoeic (""swish"") and trite rhyming couplets are clunky and babyish. Soft-edged illustrations glowing with bucolic beauty slightly anthropomorphize the horse. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

PreS-Gr 2-A colt is filled with curiosity and energy as he explores the world around him. From the barnyard animals to the sandy beaches, his enthusiasm abounds until his parents finally come to lead him home. The rhyming verse reads easily and is interspersed with repeated sounds such as the "SWISH, SWISH, SWISH" of the horses' tails and the "WHOOSH, WHOOSH" of the wind. The illustrations capture all of the youthful exuberance of this young wanderer. With a bright, warm palette of blues, browns, and greens, the lovely landscapes are a feast for the eye. Wolff's soft-focus artwork includes fields that run to the sea, crashing waves, and a tidal pool full of sea life. The expressive and animated creatures, from chicks to a seal, are very appealing in this idyllic and lively day in the life of an adventurous young equine.-Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.