Black Beauty's Early Days in the Meadow

One of the most popular animal stories of all time, Anna Sewell's Black Beauty was first published in 1877. Drawn from the original text and intended for even the youngest of horse lovers, Black Beauty's Early Days in the Meadow depicts the first few months of the horse's life as a foal frolicking in the meadow. Artist Jane Monroe Donovan renders the classic story in lush oil paintings that convey a pastoral world of green fields and shady trees, while tenderly capturing the special love between mare and foal. The perfect harmony of words and pictures proves once again that the simplest messages are often the strongest. Readers will relish the sweetness of life in the meadow and the companionship of family and friends.

Children's Literature

A few passages from Sewell's classic children's book are transformed into a beautiful picture book. Black Beauty tells us about the first place that he remembers, "a large pleasant meadow with a pond of clear water in it." He spends his days with his mother until he is old enough to play with the other young colts. This play occasionally gets rough and one day his mother takes him aside. She tells him that he is a fine horse from a fine family and gives him some words of advice. Black Beauty's Mother hopes, "that you will grow up gentle and good, and never learn bad ways; do your work with a good will and never bite or kick, even in play." This is good advice for anyone. Donovan's full-page oil painting illustrations are lush and colorful and perfectly convey the serene tone of the story. This is a lovely introduction for children not quite old enough for the novel.