Camille Matthews

"Quincy was a little red horse. His coat was the color of a new penny. His mane and tail were long and shiny. His eye were soft and brown. On his nose was a long white blaze."

And so begins Camille Matthews' simple narrative about the experiences and feelings of a horse who changes owners and homes. Quincy feels badly when his people stop coming to see him, but happy and proud when a strange woman takes him for a ride. But although he enjoys showing his stuff, he isn't sure what to make of his subsequent move to a new home, especially when he notices that some of the other horses in the stables are always winning ribbons. Fortunately, a wise old horse named Beau helps him to find his feet...

With short sentences, and simple words, Quincy Finds a New Home would make an excellent beginning reader, particularly for the horse-mad child. Young riders, in particular, will benefit from this presentation of the horse's perspective on changing homes and people. Michelle Black's illustrations, done in oil, highlight the beauty and dignity of of the equine form. I particularly liked her close-up portraits of Quincy and Beau. All in all, an appealing picture-book, ideal for young horse-lovers!… (mehr)

Have you ever been to the desert? If not, what do you think it would be like? Quincy is a little red horse who lives in a tan and white barn with many other horses including his best friend Beau, an old brown horse. Quincy and Beau’s owner is a woman named Cam who comes to ride them almost every day. One day a huge truck comes, and Beau tells Quincy that they are going on a big trip to the desert. On their way from New York to New Mexico, Beau tells Quincy about the draft horses of the Amish in Pennsylvania, the Thoroughbred race horses of Kentucky, and the American Quarterhorses of the Texas rodeos, among others. But what will they find when they get to the desert in New Mexico?
In this sequel to Quincy Finds a New Home, which introduced young readers to Quincy the horse, author Camille Matthews tells a fun story of adventure, friendship, and hope. She also provides a lot of interesting information about different kinds of horses, which would complement a scientific study of these animals, and about the various states through which Quincy and Beau travel, which fits well with a study of American geography and history. The colorful illustrations by Michelle Black include paintings of the different horse breeds mentioned and a couple of maps to help in following the two horse friends’ trip. Children can learn with Quincy of all the things horses can do and maybe even dream about their own possibilities.… (mehr)