This charming story will appeal to teachers and parents with primary age children. Chloe has a new classmate whose name is Adrian Simcox. Clearly a new student, Adrian sits alone at lunch and appears sad and lonely. On the playground, he tells anyone who will listen that he has the most beautiful white horse in the world with the brownest eyes and a golden mane. Chloe absolutely and positively does not believe him, and when she unfortunately voices this opinion out loud in front of Adrian, he is crushed. Marcy Campbell, without being didactic, weaves this unhappy and all too familiar situation with kindness and patience. Chloe and her mother take a walk with their dog and they end up at Adrian’s house. Chloe’s mother lets Chloe discover her own way to empathy, making friends, self-discovery, understanding, patience, and kindness. As Chloe befriends Adrian, she also discovers Adrian’s wonderful world of imagination. Corinna Luyken’s illustrations evoke an earlier and kinder time. The soft hues of blue, orange, gray, and yellow emphasize Adrian’s sadness as well as Chloe’s newly found understanding and compassion. Campbell has masterfully created a story which will teach your young ones kindness without their realizing that they are learning anything at all. All primary teachers and school librarians will want this title in their collections. Ruie Chehak, School Librarian, Retired Cedar Rapids Community School District (Iowa) and Charlotte County (Florida) Public Schools
Highly Recommended