Children's Literature @ NYPL

Booktalking "Stable" by Ted Lewin

stable

The barn on Caton Place was built in 1930. They provide riding lessons, pony rides, parties, and carriages for special events. Gallop, a therapeutic riding program, helps people with disabilities improve their lives through contact with equines.

All of the ponies are named after candy, such as Tiramisu, S'mores, Chocolate Chip, Fudge, Snickers, Oreo and Marshmallow. Chip is the cutest black Shetland pony that you ever saw. I used to love to take him for walks down Caton Place. Tonka is a big black horse that was named for the toy truck. Tinkerbell is a mammoth sabino Clydesdale mare. She is the sweetest thing, and she has very large movement. Fergus loves to pull carriages, and Walker loves to drive him.  

The illustrations of Kensington Stables in Brooklyn and the people and horses that work there are uncanny. I was able to pick out The Professor, a bay Thoroughbred gelding, down to the Pelham bit that he wears. The illustrations of Ryka, a children's riding instructor, and Walker, the owner, are terrific in their detail and likeness to the actual people. Also, each of the horses that lives at the stable were pictured on the last double-spread illustration of the book. This is a remarkable book in terms of its accuracy, and I love the illustrations.

Stable by Ted Lewin, 2010

Kensington Stables is one of five stables in New York City. The capital of the world is also the mecca of urban horseback riding. We love the stables that allow us to ride through the beautiful parks in three of the five boroughs. Also, the horse carriages that tourists ride on through Central Park are mesmerizing in their quaint beauty. I volunteered at the stable which is the subject of this book for a few months several years ago. I had fun with the horses and leading people around the lovely Prospect Park. The author lives near the stable in Brooklyn.