Ariol #2: Thunder Horse
Guibert and Boutavant (Ariol: Just a Donkey like You and Me, 2013) return with 12 more vignettes about the precocious and charming blue donkey Ariol, who wonders and worries and tries to get his way just like any other kid. Ariol and his friends—anthropomorphic animals all—get into delightful scrapes in each story, like when his friend Ramono comes over and they wreak tiny havoc while Ariol’s mom leaves them alone for 20 minutes. Critically acclaimed Guibert’s playful writing perfectly captures the sneaky innocence of childhood, full of harebrained schemes and well-intentioned disasters, and it is magnificently matched with Boutavant’s colorful, Scarryesque characters that are silly and earnest all at once. A joy to read at any age. Grades 2-5. --Sarah Hunter