Rain and the Reading Horse

Attention, all horse lovers! Here's a gentle, gorgeously illustrated meditation on the healing power of our relationship with animals and overcoming our fears, for readers of I Talk Like a River and Rescue & Jessica.
When a shy young girl attends a school program to read to a horse called Snow, she doesn’t know what to expect—other than to be nervous about reading aloud. Her words often get stuck, but Snow's calm and reassuring company slowly builds her confidence. Rain and the Reading Horse is a beautiful celebration of a girl's relationship with a horse and the slow but persistent ways we can confront our fears.

About the author

Maria Gianferrari is a picture book reader/writer, dog lover, and bird nerd. She writes books that honor our bonds with creatures both domestic and wild and that celebrate urban ecosystems and the natural world around us. Maria’s most recent titles include To Dogs, with Love; Fungi Grow; and Thank a Farmer. She lives with her family in Massachusetts, where deer, coyotes, bobcats, bears, and wild turkeys pass through her backyard.
Hannah Salyer’s work, including Packs: Strength in Numbers and Ancestory: The Mystery and Majesty of Ancient Cave Art, has been recognized by American Illustration and the Society of Illustrators and featured in various exhibitions in New York City. Her books have been deemed Gold Standard Selections by the Junior Library Guild. She teaches art to students of all ages, including those at Parsons School of Design, has a ceramics practice, and is cofounder and codirector of Underland Gallery. 

Summary

Attention, all horse lovers! Here's a gentle, gorgeously illustrated meditation on the healing power of our relationship with animals and overcoming our fears, for readers of I Talk Like a River and Rescue & Jessica.
When a shy young girl attends a school program to read to a horse called Snow, she doesn’t know what to expect—other than to be nervous about reading aloud. Her words often get stuck, but Snow's calm and reassuring company slowly builds her confidence. Rain and the Reading Horse is a beautiful celebration of a girl's relationship with a horse and the slow but persistent ways we can confront our fears.

Product details

• Authors: Maria Gianferrari, Gianferrari Maria
• Assisted by: Hannah Salyer (Illustration)
• Publisher: Harper Collins (US)
• Languages: English
• Age Recommendation: ages 4 to 8
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 07.10.2025
• EAN: 9780063257252
• ISBN: 978-0-06-325725-2
• No. of pages: 40
• Weight: 386 g
• Subjects: Children's and young people's books > Non-fiction books / Non-fiction picture books > Animals, plants, nature, the environment; JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Friendship, JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Horses, JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Bullying, Wildlife (Children's / Teenage), Children’s / Teenage fiction: School stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Nature and animal stories, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Girls and women, JUVENILE FICTION: Social Themes / Friendship, JUVENILE FICTION: Social Themes / Bullying, JUVENILE FICTION: Animals / Horses, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Friendship stories