A Horse Called Now - by Ruth Doyle (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Now the Horse enjoys the singing of the birds, the chattering of the crickets and all the wonders of nature. But Rabbit fears being chased by a fox, and Hen thinks a swooping magpie will catch her chicks. When a thunderstorm arrives, Now leads her friends to shelter...where they soon discover that not everything is as frightening as it seems."--

Book Synopsis

A calm and reassuring story about overcoming worries and living in the present moment."When I'm afraid, I breathe in and out and let the feelings come . . . and then go. Nothing lasts forever."

Now the Horse enjoys the singing of the birds, the chattering of the crickets and all the wonders of nature. But Rabbit fears being chased by a fox, and Hen thinks a swooping magpie will catch her chicks.

When a thunderstorm arrives, Now leads her friends to shelter . . . where they soon discover that not everything is as frightening as it seems.

Listen to the free Stories Aloud audiobook- just scan the QR code on the back cover to read along with the story!

Review Quotes

"Now" is the name Doyle (You Are Part of the Wonder) gives to a great white horse who stands in a daisy-studded field at the start of this picture book-a horse whose gift is being able to stay in the moment. Now notices "buds opening, dragonflies dancing" when Rabbit and her babies arrive, hearts racing, crying, "Fox is chasing us!" "Can you see him now?" the horse asks, before responding to further concerns ("No... but he might sneak up...") with "Or he might not.... At this moment, all is well." Hen and her chicks fear Magpie; Sheep and her lambs, the farmer's new dog. When thunder booms and the frightened animals flee to the barn, they find unexpected visitors, and Now's patient words help the animals wait in peace. Finkeldey (When the Storks Came Home) uses soft, pastoral shades and textures to capture the horse's shaggy mane, and the fur and feathers of the smaller creatures, whose faces express believable emotion. Barnyard detail and background scenery ground the abstract nature of Now's calming techniques ("I breathe in... and out...") and mindfulness teachings ("even the wildest storms will always end") in this evocative pairing of barnyard life and inward reflection. Ages 4-8. (June)

--Publishers Weekly

About This Book:
"When I'm afraid, I breathe in and out and let the feelings come . . . and then go. Nothing lasts forever." Now the Horse enjoys the singing of the birds, the chattering of the crickets and all the wonders of nature. But Rabbit fears being chased by a fox, and Hen thinks a swooping magpie will catch her chicks. When a thunderstorm arrives, Now leads her friends to shelter . . . where they soon discover that not everything is as frightening as it seems. A calm and reassuring story about overcoming worries and living in the present moment with beautiful artwork by Alexandra Finkeldey.

*Review Contributed By Olivia Farr, Staff Reviewer*
intriguing picture book about calming fears

A HORSE CALLED NOW is a picture book about calming worries and anxieties. Now always seems calm to the other animals, and as they approach with their fears and concerns of others, Now reassures them that all is okay for now. When a storm rolls in, she leads them into the barn, where they wait out the storm with the animals they were afraid of. They all notice how well she handles potentially scary things, and she tells them how she breathes slowly and lets go of the fear, knowing that these things will pass.
What I loved: This is an interesting story that suggests taking a second to consider the other side of potentially scary situations and using deep breaths to stay calm. The story is written in a way that will approachable for young readers. Due to the amount of text and the content, I would recommend for elementary school aged readers.
Soft illustrations show the animals and sweeping colors depict the storm and its aftermath. A QR code offers an audiobook version that readers can use to read by themselves.
What left me wanting more: This may not work well for sensitive readers as the animals describe fears of being eaten or attacked. Sometimes, there are legitimate fears and this story does not really distinguish between them, recommending against taking precautions in these situations. It will work best for older children who can understand this and the other implications, while understanding that sometimes pausing and reassessing may be the best course of action.
Final verdict: A HORSE CALLED NOW is an interesting picture book that frames anxiety-provoking situations in a way of understanding that everything is okay in the moment. This will work best for elementary school aged readers.

--Jan Farnworth, YA Book Central

An expressive picture book that suggests practical ways of managing fears while telling a story worth reading and rereading.
(starred)

--Booklist

K-Gr 4-In this gently reassuring fablelike story, a wise horse guides other farm animals through the process of reducing anxiety and being present in the moment. Rabbits fear the threat of a fox, a hen worries about a magpie swooping in, and sheep fret that the farmer's new dog may mistreat them-but none of those concerns come to fruition. In fact, readers are reminded to look beyond assumptions when a thunderstorm breaks and the "scary" animals end up being just as sympathetic and vulnerable as the initial cast of endearing creatures. Doyle's prose is beautiful and descriptive, introducing young readers to a lovely and sophisticated use of language through onomatopoeia, similes, and a rich vocabulary. Finkeldey's expansive illustrations lend a vintage charm reminiscent of Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire's work. Rendered with textured brushstrokes, animal faces are expressive, and an effective use of color highlights the positive and negative emotions that play out in the narrative. Although anxiety may be difficult to overcome, the horse's lessons, particularly the mantra "At this moment, all is well," provide useful tools for readers of all ages to mitigate tense moments and cope with fears.
VERDICT This gentle animal story equips readers with strategies to combat anxiety. An excellent choice for story times about feelings or a comforting bedtime story.

--Allison Tran, School and Library Journal

"A refreshingly inspired lesson on the importance of living in the moment."--Tish Rabe, Kirkus

"An expressive picture book that suggests practical ways of managing fears while telling a story worth reading and rereading."--Booklist

"This gentle animal story equips readers with strategies to combat anxiety. An excellent choice for story times about feelings or a comforting bedtime story."--Allison Tran, School Library Journal

Barnyard detail and background scenery ground the abstract nature of Now's calming techniques and mindfulness teachings in this evocative pairing of barnyard life and inward reflection.--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Ruth Doyle (Author)
Ruth Doyle's obsession with animals started at an early age. She now lives on Mini Motley Sanctuary with a flock of sheep, eight chickens, three dogs, two rescued miniature horses, six guinea pigs, two rabbits, and two grown-up children. Ruth's debut picture book, Songs for Our Sons published in 2020 with its companion, Dreams for Our Daughters following in 2021.

Alexandra Finkeldey (Illustrator)
Alexandra Finkeldey is a freelance artist based in Ottawa, Canada. She uses both traditional and digital mediums to capture her favorite subjects, which include animals, people, plants, and food. Alexandra's recent picture books include When the Storks Came Home (2022) and Talala: The Curious Leopard Cub (2021).