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.

(Ancestory) ★ “Vivid . . . mesmerizing . . . intriguing . . . How extraordinary that ancient ancestors call out to us from the rocks we see all around. Excellent explanatory backmatter concludes this fascinating book.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) (Ancestory) ★ "Breathtaking illustrations capture the beauty and power of prehistoric artwork with remarkable precision. This luminous picture book about humanity’s shared stories is full of discoveries." — Booklist (starred review) (Rain and the Reading Horse) ★ “A hopeful story rooted in change slowly wrought.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) (Ancestory) ★ "Visually stunning. A fascinating look at a still-unfurling human history." — Publishers Weekly (starred review) (Packs: Strength in Numbers) ★ "[An] uplifting, lively picture book that details the various ways a community structure helps a species thrive and survive.... Part natural science, part deep ecology, wholly captivating." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) (Packs: Strength in Numbers) ★ "A must-purchase for every collection. Salyer offers a beautiful look at Earth’s herding creatures."  — School Library Journal (starred review) (Rain and the Reading Horse) “Gianferrari and Salyer marvelously capture the stop-and-go nature of stress and anxiety. Read this book to a horse, a dog, a cat, a sibling, anyone!” — Kirkus Reviews (Rain and the Reading Horse) “Exceptionally beautiful illustrations. Children will enjoy this sensitive and nuanced story.” — School Library Journal (Rain and the Reading Horse) “A wonderfully reassuring pick.” — Booklist

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.