It's a beautiful, fairytale-like story about a young girl named Claudia, who loves to visit the glassblower's shop on her way to school. The glass animals fascinate her and inspire her imagination.
One day the glassblower gives Claudia a glass winged horse, whose wings are broken. It hides a secret.
Much as Claudia loves the glass horse, she's disappointed at its broken wings.
When flood waters rise from the canals and into the streets and buildings of Venice, they reach Claudia's home. The damage is too great and her family must leave Venice to find a new home.
Finding it difficult to settle, the glass horse reminds Claudia of Venice. And one night, it comes to life and transports her back there, with a view of the city from above. In the morning Claudia and the glass horse are safely back home, and the horse sits in pride of place waiting for their next adventure.
I've visited Venice, and the island of Murano where glassmaking is traditional, and teading this story reminded me of the experience. The illustrations by Anita Lester, an artist, musician, and filmmaker, are in a lavish style. They capture a magical atmosphere, and an other worldly feel of Venice.
Able to be enjoyed for pure storytelling, The Glass Horse of Venice can also be a prompt for discussion of moving house, mythology, and life in different parts of the world.
Imbued with both reality and fantasy, The Glass Horse of Venice is a story to be enjoyed by children of all ages, and to jump-start their imagination.
Teachers' notes are available to download from the publisher's website.
Title: The Glass Horse of Venice
Author: Arnold Zable
Illustrator: Anita Lester
Publisher: Text Publishing, $
27.99
Publication Date: September 2024
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781923058002
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book