Touch the Moon

November 1, 1987
Gr 3-6 -In Bauer's light fantasy, a horse-loving birthday girl sees her wish come true as a china horse comes to life and carries her on a magical adventure. Bauer has given the magnificent palomino stallion a distinct personality, in contrast to the Anygirl, Jennifer. Moonseeker may look like the perfect horse, but at first he scares Jennifer with his size and bossy attitude. Despite her trepidation, she copes admirably with Moonseeker's faults. Her exploits should captivate readersin this slim book, the pair gallop recklessly, attempt to jump a river, swim to safety, become trapped in a cave, and escape homeward. Moonseeker's transformation and the night's action are believable. The plot's sole problem is its directionthe only motivation for the adventure seems to be an hour's escape from reality. The writing is adequate, purposely creating an other-wordly feel with time and place. Berenzy's dark drawings glow with moonlight and sustain the tone of the book. Readers who enjoy Lynd Ward's wordless The Silver Pony (Houghton, 1973) can graduate to this similar child-horse fantasy. Charlene Strickland, Los Angeles County Public Library, Valencia, Calif.