WILD HORSE WINTER

From Japan, a depiction of some extraordinary—but documented—behavior by the wild Dosanko horses of the island of Hokkaido. In heavy snows, the horses lie down, allowing the snow to cover them so that they are protected from the bitter wind. Here, after such an experience, one colt and his mother swim a river and reach the sea, where they feast on kelp. Using broad double spreads, the artist depicts the horses—digging for grass in the snow, chewing bark from trees, struggling against the snow that finally shelters them, galloping triumphantly along the beach—with simplicity and power, his vibrant colors augmenting the drama without a hint of anthropomorphism. A beautifully observed glimpse of a favorite animal, in a setting where (as explained in an editor's note) a unique adaptation has ensured its survival for 300 years. Picture book. 4-9)