Doris

PreS-Gr 1–Doris begins as a cipher, jumping into a story with no real introduction. Readers don’t know where Doris the horse is—though it may be the center ring of a circus—what she performs, what emotional stakes she actually faces. She quits that place for wilder, unbordered spaces, leaving the story open for exploration around general themes, such as bravery in the face of the unknown, being comfortable with oneself, opening up to new ways of life, and relying on one’s inner resources instead of adulation from others. This vague uncertainty carries through somewhat impressionistic illustrations. They add to the freedom and interpretative nature of the text but will leave some readers feeling untethered. The shifting spots on Doris’s skin and the hint of un-horselike smiles (a pony joins Doris) could be either distracting or beatific. But for readers who sink into the colorscape and go with the rhythm of the pictures, the joyous bursts of language and brush strokes give vibrant movement to the non-story. Sound words—twinkling, springing, wondering—lend an air of magic to the adventure.