Harry and Horsie. Katie Van Camp. Illustrated by Lincoln Agnew. New York, NY: Harper & Bray/Harper Collins (Distributed in Canada by HarperCollins Canada), 2009. 32 pp., hardcover, $22.50. ISBN 978-0-06-175598-9. Subject Headings: Friendship-Juvenile fiction. Bubbles-Fiction. Preschool-grade 1 / Ages 3-6. Review by Inderjit Deogun. ***½ /4

excerpt:

It was way past bedtime, but Harry wasn't tired. Neither was Horsie.

The moon was keeping them awake. It was shining on the shelf where Harry's brand-new Super Duper Bubble Blooper had been put away for the night.

"Come on," Harry whispered.

Wherever Harry went, Horsie went too, so they crept across the room.

Harry knew exactly how to get his Bubble Blooper down.

And, of course, Horsie helped him.

Soon bubbles of all shapes and sizes filled Harry's room.

It's bedtime. There's only one problem: Both Harry and Horsie aren't tired. However, when Harry spots his Super Duper Bubble Blooper in the moonlight, he gets an idea. Soon bubbles begin to float out into space, taking Harry's possessions with them. Everything is swept up and away including Horsie. Thus begins Harry's intergalactic rescue mission.

      Lincoln Agnew's retro-comic approach is a welcome departure from the traditional. Agnew's palette of solely primary colours gives dimension to his stylistic choice. The use of yellow, blue and red effortlessly highlights important objects and points in the story. With tremendous ease, Agnew's refreshing illustrations transform Harry into a superhero.

      In Harry and Horsie, Katie Van Camp takes the reader on an out-of-this-world adventure. With the swift introduction of Harry and his Super Duper Bubble Blooper, Van Camp doesn't waste any time setting the stage. The use of "bloop" throughout the story is sure to engage the imagination of young readers. Children will not only relate to, but also understand, the relationship between Harry and Horsie. Camp's Harry and Horsie is a testament to the lengths one will go for a friend.

Highly Recommended.

Inderjit Deogun, of Toronto, ON, is currently pursuing a career in publishing with a particular interest in children's literature.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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