Each morning on her way to school Claudia passes the glassblower’s workshop and admires the animals in the window, especially the winged horses, prancing, galloping, rearing in battle. One day the glassblower calls Claudia inside and gives her a damaged horse. It is beautiful, but its wings are broken. And Claudia sees only its imperfection.

When a terrible storm floods their home, Claudia and her family have to leave. The glass horse is packed away, all but forgotten. Until one night it comes to life. And takes Claudia flying through the night sky, back to her beloved Venice.

Arnold Zable’s picture story book The Glass Horse of Venice, sumptuously illustrated by Anita Lester, is a tale of the power of imagination that will delight children young and not so young.