The Ice Horse

Candace Christiansen's The Ice Horse is a poignant tale of a boy's first winter helping cut the ice. The beautiful illustrations complement the story and help children understand a piece of the life of ordinary citizens of the past. The boy's empathy with the horse, too, encourages empathy in the reader. I highly recommend this story.

This children's book is a look back in time at the annual 'industry' of ice cutting, and how one youngster helped out, day and night, to cut ice for the coming summer. The story is factual and gripping, told by the youngster learning this man's work. The illustrations are wonderful. For children who ask "what was it like when you were young, Grandma" and are astonished at all the things we didn't have then and now take for granted, this story will be very appealing.