Winter's Gift

What attracted me to this book was the art work. The pictures are realistic and sensitive. When I see the mare walking through the snowstorm, I get cold! The story is very sweet, and the perfect sentiment for Christmas. Wonderful children's book that adults while enjoy.

When I picked this book up, I thought it was a childrens book. After reading the first few pages, I realized that the story was timeless and for all ages. Wonderful illustrations. I had intended to buy it for my [...] daughter, and ended up purchasing a couple of copies.

This is a heartwarming story of an elderly man and also of a mare lost in a winter snowstorm. For every previous Christmas the man and his wife had gone to the woods nearby and picked out the perfect Christmas tree. They would then take the tree back to their home and decorate it, but the crowning glory of each tree would be when she placed the star on it. He had lost his wife the previous spring and this was his first Christmas alone. He had not gone to pick out a tree because he had lost heart after his loss. At the same time a mare had become separated from her herd of wild horses and was wandering in the storm trying to find shelter. She could hear wolves howling in the distance and she was frightened and alone. She came to the old man's home and he heard her outside and took her into his barn, fed her and dried her off. He drifted off to sleep in his barn that Christmas Eve, but when he awoke he found he had been given an unexpected gift. I won't spoil things by giving you the ending, but it made my wife Sharon and me a little teary eyed. This is an ideal Christmas present for anyone you know that cherishes the Christmas spirit as we do. Keep a copy for yourself, but be sure and buy enough to give to those you love.

I read this story in a book store and cried a little. What a beautiful story for times such as these A simple reminder that even in the worst of times there is hope. Mother nature bringing two lonely souls together. The drawing are simply flawless. Of course I had to buy it. I plan to read it to my own children someday. Thank you Ms. Donovan for reminding us how important it is to always have hope no matter how hard things can get.

Christmastime may be designated as the happiest time of the year. Filled with singing, eating, visiting, giving and receiving presents, and so much more. But on a small farm, the holiday season is best forgotten, as it brings along nothing more than painful memories of lost loved ones. However, Mother Nature has very different plans, for a terrible snowstorm brings together two broken hearts, one of a man who lost his wife, and one of a horse, separated from her herd, and gives them what they both want most for the holiday, companionship. When I first saw WINTER'S GIFT, I was quite sure whether it was a holiday story or not. But the illustration of the horse in the snowstorm on the cover, quickly made me realize that I wanted the book, even if it wasn't a holiday story. However, upon opening WINTER'S GIFT, I found that it was a holiday story, and a lovely one at that. The lovely prose, and gorgeous illustrations, both done by Jane Monroe Donovan, are exquisite, and will bring hope into the lives of everyone who reads this story during the holiday season. A must have! Erika Sorocco Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper