Moonhorse

by Mary Pope Osborne, S.M. Saelig (Illustrator)

Out of the night, the winged Moonhorse appears, and a young girl slips away from her sleeping father to join him. Together they ride past stars and night shadows, constellations and comets, as they pull the moon across the clear night sky.

Moonhorse is a luminously illustrated bedtime fantasy that opens the door to the world of dreams and myths in an enchanting way.

Genres: Picture Books, Fantasy, Childrens, Fiction, Adventure, Storytime, Animals

Library Binding

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Mary Pope Osborne is an American author of children's books and audiobook narrator. She is best known as the author of the Magic Tree House series, which as of 2017 sold more than 134 million copies worldwide. Both the series and Osborne have won awards, including for Osborne's charitable efforts at promoting children's literacy. One of four children, Osborne moved around in her childhood before attending the University of North Carolina. Following college, Osborne traveled before moving to New York City. She somewhat spontaneously began to write, and her first book was published in 1982. She went on to write a variety of other children's and young adult books before starting the Magic Tree House series in 1992. Osborne's sister Natalie Pope Boyce has written several compendium books to the Magic Tree House series, sometimes with Osborne's husband Will Osborne.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young girl, sitting with her dozing father on their front porch one evening, finds herself embarking on a fantastic celestial voyage, when she is borne aloft on the back of the winged Moonhorse. Landing on stars, lassoing the moon, and touring the constellations, girl and steed see many of the wonders of the heavens, before returning home, to Earth...

This magical night-time adventure really appealed to me, visually speaking, with soft-toned illustrations that perfectly capture the luminescent beauty of the moonhorse, and the dark enchantment of the cosmos. I can't say I was as impressed with the text, which struck me as being rather stiff - almost like a series of statements, strung together, rather than a smooth-flowing story. Still, as an invitation to consider the wonders of the sky, or simply as a child's fantasy about flying, The Moonhorse makes for an appealing selection, over all.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

love the illustrations of the moon horse and the journey past some constellations, fair on the rest of the book.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it’ll be fun to share with 3rd during the moon study.

[Sydney Beth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Weird book.

[Bat713 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeously dreamy!

[Alex Roth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about a young girl who’s dad falls asleep and she sets off on a night time adventure with a winged horse. At first I found this book to be a little off-putting and kind of a creepy unrealistic tone to it but after reading it again I became fonder of it. I think that this book would be good to read to your own children as a bedtime story but don’t necessarily see this book being utilized well in a classroom other than for expanding children’s imagination.

I think the main theme in this book is to seek the unknown and stretch your limits of imagination. In the story the young girl goes on many different adventures that children could have never imagined until they expended their imagination. However I also think that opening kids imagination up to much with this book could really make them put them out of reality and that is not something that we want as a teacher. While imagination is a good thing it is important to no loose too much sense of reality.

Osborne, M., & Saelig, S. (1991). Moonhorse. New York: Knopf.

[Beth (YA Books Central) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moonhorse is a inspiring bedtime story about a young girl who goes on a nighttime adventure with a beautiful white horse while her father sleeps. The girl and the horse fly through the constellations and go on an adventure in the stars.

I loved how the child and the horse rode through the night sky and identified the stars and constellations. The story helps open a child's imagination and shows the beautiful aspects of the moon, stars, and night.

"We gallop toward midnight,
the Moonhorse and I,
pulling the Moon
through the clear silent sky."

Parents will enjoy reading this to their young children as a calming bedtime story to help ease their children into a peaceful slumber. The illustrations in the book are calming and seem painted with soft colors and yet vivid characters. I would recommend this to any parent who has young children who enjoy bedtime stories.


http://curling-up-with-a-good-book.bl...

[Ginta · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Moonhorse” is about a winged horse that takes a girl on a night journey into space.

“Moonhorse” is a fantasy. I read this book with my students and they were a little put off by the Pegasus. Young children may not enjoy seeing the winged horse.

The story does not have any “foreign” elements that may require explanation. However, the mythical/astrological creatures – the Pegasus, the Ram, the Herdsman – may require explanation by the teacher.

The intended audience is children in general not children from a specific nation.

My rating for this book is two stars. I like the mythical story but some children may not. I think the mythical/astrological characters may be confusing to young children and even a little frightening. The teacher would have to (of course) read the book before presenting and assess whether your students would enjoy hearing and/or reading the story.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this lovely reissued version of a picture book published in 1991, a girl heads off on an adventure after her father falls asleep. The Moonhorse makes her wishes to fly across the sky come true. They rise above the houses and land on a star, and she even has the chance to pass through the stars of the zodiac, glimpse the moon, and outrace some wolves. Eventually, of course, her night ride must come to an end, and she returns home with her father none the wiser. Although the text and illustrations have a mysterious, almost romantic quality about them, this sort of thing is not really my cup of tea. That doesn't mean that it won't have appeal for some youngsters and their parents, possibly as a readaloud or a bedtime story to be shared and a reminder that there are adventures that await, but coming home is always satisfying as well.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little girl and her father are sitting on the porch in the evening. When the first star comes out, the little girl wishes alone, as her father is asleep. A beautiful winged moonhorse comes and they fly through the night sky helping the moon rise.

This reissue (originally published in 1991) is a great bedtime story. The text reads softly, the illustrations are large and quiet. I can see this “dream” becoming a child’s favorite. Classroom connection? They do fly around the constellations, which are artfully represented.

Cross posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com CHECK IT OUT!

[Read Ribbet · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rare picture book from magic Tree House author Mary Pope Osborne will introduce readers to the constellations of the night sky as a young girl is taken on an imaginative journey by a moonhorse. The journey takes them past the constellations illustrated as characters in the sky. With poetic language, Osbourne creates this bedtime story while as integrating interesting factual information along the way.

[Reading Rainbow Community · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely and lyrical, this dreamy fantasy is pleasing to the ear and the eye. Great addition to the bedtime story shelf! The girl and her Moonhorse riding through the night sky, among the moon and stars and constellations (my favorites are the pages with the constellations) are a sweet and calming way to lull a young one to sleep.

[Christine Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A winged horse takes a child on a wonderful night journey into outer space. www.hcpl.net

[Cece · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whimsical book where a horse with wings take a little girl on an adventure in space.

[Fiona Endsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and a lovely night time adventure make this an ideal last story before sleep for little ones.

[♥ Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, but it always creeped me out a bit. At the same time, I appreciated the magical darkness of it.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Been a long while since I've read this childhood book, but it was a favorite because of the imaginative ride and illustrations in it.

[Renae · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story told in verse. Bedtime story meets astronomy lesson.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful illustrations

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful book to read just before bedtime. The Illustrations in the book are dreamlike. I would recommend this book for ages 3-9.

[Rhica · Rating 5 out of 5]

lovely

[Kellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic art. More to come!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Girl flies on winged horse. Reissue, originally published in 1991.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I received an F&G of this book at an ALA conference.

[Colette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful. One of those books that would make a great bedtime treat because it's such a quiet fantasy. Shades of stardust, moonlight, and many constellations draw the reader into the clear night sky.

[Raegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book and cute illustrations. I feel the words could have been more creative/rhymed more but it is still a good book.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is such a gorgeous book. It makes me weep for my childhood!