ALA Booklist (Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2003)

for reading aloud. Adapted from a Pawnee story recorded in 1889, this magical tale tells of a poor boy and his grandmother who rescue a sickly horse. When an unnamed tribe attacks, the horse tells the boy to cover him in mud and ride directly into the enemy: "But do not do it more than four times!" When the boy attacks a fifth time, an arrow kills the animal. While in mourning, the boy sees the dead horse rise and head to the place of the spirit animals. Later, the animal returns with enough horses for the boy, his grandmother, and others in need. The ink, watercolor, and gouache paintings make full use of color, texture, and form, both in the minutely detailed naturalistic flora and fauna and in the exquisite abstract patterning. A lovely rhythm makes the story good for reading aloud, and the pictures will definitely stand up to repeated examination. Goble, who has studied Plains cultures deeply, provides clear notes and references to his work.

Horn Book (Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2004)

Thompson describes what Mouse finds when he rides to school in a backpack: "Squiggle, scribble, dot crayons! / Ssip, slurp, crunch snacks!" and children, of course--"Wiggly, giggly, best of all friends!" Illustrations in glowing colors provide appealing close-ups of Mouse and his discoveries; the toe of a sneaker, for example, takes up most of one page.

Kirkus Reviews

Goble ( Storm Maker's Tipi , 2001, etc.) returns with another engaging Native American legend complemented by his glorious illustrations—a mix of authentic and contemporary design. An old Pawnee woman and her grandson are very poor and walk behind the tribe, as they have no horse. One day they come across a seemingly worn-out horse. The boy cares for it as if it's the most precious one in the tribe. In return for his kindness, the horse gives the boy advice that enables him to achieve status as a brave warrior. He goes beyond where the animal has directed him, however, and the horse is killed in battle. Realizing his foolishness, the boy retreats to sit in sorrow and remorse; the Father above allows the horse to come back to life. A series of events brings an entire herd of horses to the boy, who asks his grandmother to take one and give the rest to those in need. Never again are they viewed as poor. In fact, the boy is revered as "Piraski Resaru, Boy Chief" and the horse is known as the mystic horse. Goble's storytelling is superb; his illustrations extraordinary and filled with fascinating detail. His characteristic, stylistically flat paintings accurately portray the Native American tribe he depicts and call to mind early Native American paintings. Using a palette of browns and golds, blues and greens, he creates a magnificent world of days long ago when the Pawnees valued their horses above all else. Author's notes citing resources used as background verify the authenticity for both the words and the illustrations and provide insights into the history of the Pawnee nation. Goble's fans will be delighted and new readers will be inspired to read more of his work. From an exceptional talent: a sure classic. (Picture book/folktale. 6-11)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Admirers of Paul Goble's Native American tales will savor the Caldecott Medalist's Mystic Horse, based on a Pawnee legend about a humble boy rewarded for his kindness to an old, lame horse. As in other of the artist's works, detailed notes supply context for both the story and the designs incorporated into the illustrations.

School Library Journal (Thu May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2003)

K-Gr 4 Powerful, evocative endpapers showing surging horses, winging their way across raging seas and starry skies, draw readers into the spirit world of the Pawnee. With this opening, Goble brings to life the legend of the magical steed that gifted the tribe with "a herd of spirited horses." As the story opens, a poor boy and his grandmother struggle to keep up on foot as the rest of the tribe moves from place to place on horseback. One day, the boy finds a starving, limping horse and nurses him back to health, ignoring the jeers of others who insist he is wasting his time. In return, the animal gives him speed and cunning to spur his people on in battle. The boy, however, ignores the steed's final instructions and is devastated when the beloved animal dies as a result of his heedlessness. Later, he is forgiven and the stallion returns from the spirit world to reward his former benefactor with a herd of wild horses. Employing the same technique as in The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses (Bradbury, 1982), Goble uses the white outlines that are part of his signature style and marries traditional and stylized flat patterning with occasional shading to suggest rounded forms. By combining gouache and watercolor, he alternates areas of opaque and transparent color, evoking a sense of both airiness and solidity perfectly suited to the mystical and earthbound worlds depicted in this tale of generosity, bravery, and forgiveness. Extensive historical notes attest to the author's comprehensive research. Laurie Edwards, West Shore School District, Camp Hill, PA