For horse-loving readers of all ages, a lyrical and exquisitely
illustrated picture book following the relationship between a boy and a
horse, separated then reunited. This is a story about enduring
friendships and how language is shaped by our experiences.
The foal is born on a spring morning of sunshine and snow melt. If she
had words, she would say willow, crocus, puddle and sky . . .
Red Badger is a newborn foal learning to stand when she slips and gets
stuck in a muddy badger hole. It is a young boy who frees her, and his
kindness and gentleness mark the beginning of their friendship -- though
she will always be wary of the ground that briefly trapped her. As the
seasons pass on the ranch, Red Badger learns more about her world: Fall
is leaf rustle and fence posts. Winter is white hills and long nights.
The boy is hay, a gentle touch, playing in the snow and the sweet smell
of peppermints. If a horse had words, the word would be . . . friend.
This is a beautifully written and heartwarming story told from the
horse's point of view that follows her relationship with a boy from the
day she is born, to when she is sent to auction, to the day she and the
boy are reunited at a rodeo where she has become a bronc and he a
cowboy.