The Glass Horse of Venice
Arnold Zable and Anita Lester
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.
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andThe Glass Horse of Venice
‘This is a man who truly believes in the power of stories.’
‘A gifted storyteller, Zable unearths the hidden symmetry and arresting images that make these tales sing.’
‘You may find this book one of the most uplifting, inspiring and moving you will read this year.’
‘Endlessly beautiful…Anita Lester’s illustration debut is divine.’
‘An enchanting book of an imaginative journey…Readers will cheer along with Claudia as she sees her beloved city from the back of the winged horse. Children will marvel at the images of the glass animals, especially the winged horse as it takes Claudia on her longed-for ride.
‘This is a luminous story, rendered with glorious imagery, for ages 3+.’
‘This is a most lavish book. With warm classical style illustrations that give us plenty to engage with and talk about, we can’t help but be pulled into the beautiful tale. You feel your own imagination firing as you dream of travelling on a winged horse in the sky. It encourages us to dream of a story in something broken. It also tells us of the importance of home. It’s simply quite magical…It’s a book destined to encourage readers to create their own magical and extraordinary dreams every time its pages are opened.’
‘Arnold Zable has crafted the most poignant story in his telling of The Glass Horse of Venice; a story that celebrates the little things, fond memories and the power of imagination. Anita Lester’s divine illustrations capture the beauty of Venice and draw readers into the magical world…The sheer beauty of the words and illustrations will draw them in, and the delight afforded by the smallest of trinkets—broken or perfect—will resonate with everyone, from the target readership of three years and above, right through to adulthood…I can see The Glass Horse of Venice becoming a firm favourite, a “read-it-again” story and a keeper on the bookshelves of a generation to come.’
‘Has a fairy-tale like quality and celebrates the power of the imagination…A book to be enjoyed by many age groups.’
‘Set in Venice, Zable’s first picture book is wildly imaginative and beautifully rendered thanks of Lester’s captivating illustrations.’
