Splish-Splash

Mr. Horse

by Nicola Smee

“Who wants a ride in my little boat?”
The whole lovable gang from Clip-Clop and Jingle-Jingle is back-and this time they're taking to the high seas. But the ocean's looking choppy, and the waves are getting bigger! Will the farmyard friends manage to stay dry… or will they tumble out of their little boat, SPLISH, SPLASH, SPLOSH, and take a wild watery ride?

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Storytime, Childrens, Horses, Friendship, Dogs

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 2002

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bless each and every author who can write and/or illustrate a perfect book for toddler storytime. *blows many kisses*

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Horse, Cat, Dog, Duck, and Pig are setting out on an adventure on the high seas. As Horse steers their little boat they enjoy the waves until the sea gets rough and every one falls overboard. Can Horse save them and what will they do now once they reach land? Can fear make adventures something to avoid or can the excitement prove that trying something unknown is the best kind of fun to have with friends? Great for your little toddler.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

She is the BEST at pacing, building momentum without it ever getting frantic and a playful, funny resolution. She makes it look so simple, but there is underlying genius at work.

[Trip Jackson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Highlighted unsafe boating practices, showed the consequences and then no lesson learned, the animals went out again. Where are the PFDs? Where is the reasonable operation of the vessel? The master is responsible for the safe operation, yet Mr. horse has a flagrant disregard for the size of the vessel, increasing seastate, and inexperience of his crew…. Disappointing

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anybody ever get the impression that Mr. Horse is always getting taken advantage of by
Cat
and Dog
and Pig
and Duck?

Anybody else think maybe Mr. Horse needs to find some friends that give as much as they take and aren't such, I don't know, bums?

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Nicola Smee's books! I like the other ones a bit better, because I get scared at the idea of kids capsizing in the water, or going out in water without being good swimmers. Haha, I clearly didn't grow up on a waterfront.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this more than Everett did. It was a lot of fun and I loved the ending when the animals all want to do it again.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorites. I loved to read it over and over again with Mommy.

[Jenna Mills · Rating 1 out of 5]

Even more annoying than the 1st book, but this one is downright dangerous! They all nearly drown... And then go to do it again! (leaving aside the fact that a HORSE is rowing the boat...ridiculous!)

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a hit. The toddlers I read it to were commenting about it all the way through.

[Tris Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this with Miss Diana!

[Danielle Robertson Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

An odd story...but I like how they add had life jackets.

[Colorado Buck · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting. things drown in water, why want to do the big splash again? i liked it until that part. it was exciting, but dangerous???

[Maeve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Storytime:
Boats
Friends

[Joel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book and artwork just okay

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

As in the story of The Little Red Hen, Horse has several little animal friends -- Cat, Dog, Pig, and Duck. But in this story they are Mr. Horse's helpers (more like the animals in Mr. Gumpy's Outing by John Burningham).

On the page where the animals row out to sea I stopped reading, put the book down, and we all sang the song "Row, row, row your boat", changing the words to "gently out to SEA" for a quick MUSIC / WIGGLE BREAK.

Books with splishings and splashings invite actions such as clapping or slapping legs while saying "Splash!" multiple times.

There's also a dramatic "Help! Help! Help!" moment where you can stop and have the children say it again with you.

It's all great fun.

[Library Quine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story about horse and his friends cat, pig, dog & duck. In this story they take a trip with horse in his little rowing boat, and then a dip. Lots of Splish and Splosh make it just about perfect!

[Mehjabeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Want to get kids singing chorus-like to part of a story? Grab this book. Get them singing the "splish splash". A whole bunch of fun about a horse and fellow farm 'n pond buddies on a row boat in the ocean. Don't know who's having more fun, me or the kids.

[Mti Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr House takes his friends, Cat, Dog, Pig, and Duck, for a ride in his boat. The ocean goes splish-splash and everyone ends up getting wet.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adorable in its simplicity and attractive with bright illustrations, this book will be loved by toddlers as a readaloud.

[Geni · Rating 3 out of 5]

interactive story

[Rheta Thola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for a kid who loves horses. Similar to Clip-Clop (by same author) where the animals go on an adventure. Short simple phrases for each picture.

[Julia Jasztal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book-in-Bag ** Scherkenbach Elementary ** 1st Grade
#3

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't like this one quite as much as Clip-Clop, but I still think I would like to try it with my preschool group. Possible themes: friends, boats, swimming

[Amy Mccarty]

...1/7/14Monly

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is more like an easy reader than a picture book. Perfect for kindergarten and first graders who are learning to read simple, repetitive texts.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful Ones 4/18/2014
Preschool 4/18/2014

[June · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thinking of using this for a boats lap time. Will see how it is received.

Read at PJ Story Time and I think the mother enjoyed it more than her daughter.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love me some Smee.