Rocking Horse Christmas

by Mary Pope Osborne, Ned Bittinger (Illustrator)

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Holiday
One Christmas morning, a boy finds a rocking horse under his tree. When he climbs on his back, they ride off on the most wondrous adventures--jousting with knights and capturing outlaws. But as the years go by & the boy outgrows his favorite childhood friend, the rocking horse is stowed in the attic with other old toys. Faithfully the rocking horse waits, hoping his boy will return. Years later, on another Christmas, another little boy (whose father had ridden the rocking horse) discovers the enchanted horse, and off they ride on adventures beyond imagination.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday, Fiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1997

About the author

Mary Pope Osborne is an American author of children's books and audiobook narrator. She is best known as the author of the Magic Tree House series, which as of 2017 sold more than 134 million copies worldwide. Both the series and Osborne have won awards, including for Osborne's charitable efforts at promoting children's literacy. One of four children, Osborne moved around in her childhood before attending the University of North Carolina. Following college, Osborne traveled before moving to New York City. She somewhat spontaneously began to write, and her first book was published in 1982. She went on to write a variety of other children's and young adult books before starting the Magic Tree House series in 1992. Osborne's sister Natalie Pope Boyce has written several compendium books to the Magic Tree House series, sometimes with Osborne's husband Will Osborne.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book looked nice from the cover but the storyline was really weak. The illustrator has some technical ability. Sorry to those who like this book but we really didn't.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a "Toy Story"-esque tale with a Christmas theme. I thought it was particularly poignant as our girls each had a rocking horse (that they purchased with their own allowances.) Our girls played with their horses constantly after they bought them, but the horses became unused and somewhat forgotten fairly soon thereafter. We ended up donating one, but the other still remains in our oldest daughter's room. I have a feeling that it got a little extra attention after we read this story. The illustrations are terrific and we loved how the story came full circle (although perhaps that will mean that the remaining horse will be with us for years to come...sigh.) We really enjoyed reading this story together.

[Delta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Geez, I have managed to pick several books lately that leave me a bit heartbroken. Why was I so upset over an anthropomorphized rocking horse? I don't know! Also, why are there Santas on the cover? (I assumed at least two of them were Santa's helpers AKA mall Santas.)

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shadow is a rocking horse who really loves his boy. For a long time, they go to lots of places together. But soon, Shadow is left alone and doesn't know where his boy went. This book has beautiful illustrations and reminds us of all the fun we had with our childhood best friends. =)

[Kellyanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Christmas book I wish was better known. It's heartwarming, the illustrations are lovely, and, of course, it's by one of my favorite authors, Mary Pope Osborne. Definitely recommend as a read-aloud during the holiday season.

[Maria Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tale of a beloved rocking horse who watches his boy grow up and grow away. Heart wrenching and tender story of a toy passed between generations.

[Leslie Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations!

[The Campbell Family · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why was I near tears reading this?! The kids also loved this simple, but poignant story.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story, but doesn’t have much to do with Christmas except being a gift at Christmas time.

[Jenny Guma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like The Velveteen Rabbit in its childhood nostalgia. Almost a tragedy :)

[Alayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite Christmas books.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great illustrations.

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kept waiting for this to be creepy like The Rocking-horse Winner, but instead it was a sad story about a child outgrowing a beloved toy and then the toy being rediscovered by the next generation.

[Kathryn Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a boy finds a rocking horse under the tree one Christmas, a magical friendship is born. The boy and his horse share many wonderful adventures, but as the boy grows up, the horse grows neglected and lonely. He faithfully waits for the day his boy will return to him, but the years grow long and his spirits fade. Finally a storm blows in the window of the attic where the horse has waited so long, and his boy, now a man, returns to him. Through all the long years, the magic of their friendship has survived and the old horse finds new life and new adventures with the newest generation of his family.

Merry merry Christmas! I love, love, LOVE this season! Reading this story made me feel like I was back in my mom's rocking chair reading Velveteen Rabbit. Although in real life, I am not the kind of person to hold onto.... anything, really, I love the spirit of these stories where the spirit of childhood and the magic of belief are preserved through a special toy. It makes all the present giving and getting of our increasingly materialistic Christmas season take on a little more heart. The point of presents at Christmas time is not the accumulation of stuff, but the formation of those magical friendships that transcend the "stuff." This is a story that reminds us not just to give stuff, but to allow our children to create real magic in their play. Oh, and the illustrations are AMAZING!

http://childrensbooksonadime.wordpres...

[Alexandria K · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, a little boy gets a rocking horse for Christmas that he named Shadow. Every day they both went on adventures they went on adventures to the Wild West, Middle Ages, Safaris, they raced in the Kentucky Derby, they went to the land of dinosaurs and fought a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Every night before sleep the boy touched Shadows mane. "Ride you tomorrow" he'd whisper, but as the boy got older he stopped riding Shadow, because he needed to go to school. Every day Shadow One day, he saw a boy that looked like his boy, but it wasn't. One day, someone picked up Shadow and put him in the attic. Every day Shadow would look for his boy when he looked out of the window, but none of the boys looked like his boy. One day, Shadow saw a boy loading a car and drive away who looked a bit like his boy. One day, a little boy went up to the attic with his dad the little boy asked his dad what Shadow's name was his dad answered Shadow and then they started to go on adventures and didn't come home until dawn.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice illustrations. The story is sweet---a little boy and all the adventures he has on his rocking horse. The little boy grows up and the horse ends up in the attic until it is rediscovered by the little boy's son, who then ventures onto wonderful places with the horse. A timeless story with a heart-warming message.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminiscent of the Velveteen Rabbit, this book tells the story of a once-loved rocking horse. Beautiful illustrations help tell the story of all the places the rocking horse took a loyal little boy. Later in life the horse is loved again by the son of the original owner.

[Shawn Deal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful Christams tale akin to the Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg. This is the story of a Rocking Horse and everything that can be imagined to do on it. Passing it from one generation to another, two boys love of a rocking horse.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book aloud many times to children and can barely get through the last page or two with feeling so sad, but good. An awesome holiday story about friends lost and found again by a wonderful author. Amazing illustrations.

Just noticed his cover under the jacket-so sweet.

[Stacy Renee (LazyDayLit) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of a boy who gets a rocking horse for Christmas one year and plays with it often but as he gets older, the horse is neglected and eventually stored in the attic where it looksdown upon its boy growing up.

[Sandybear76]

great art work. the 2nd graders enjoyed it.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok story about a boy and his rocking horse but pictures are w onderful

[Christina Startt · Rating 4 out of 5]

We have all our old Christmas books out, so I'm going to read through them. I always remember liking this one. The story is sweet and the illustrations are very pretty.

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite Christmas books that always makes me cry in a good way.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely beautiful book to cherish. The story is poignant and wondrous, and the stunning illustrations by Ned Bittinger take you into a wonderland on every page.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brings to mind memories of favorite toys from Christmas past.