I recently re-read this wonderful book by Frank Asch, first published in 1981. In it, a young girl asks her father for a horsey ride before bedtime, only to witness her father transform into a horse and her room melt into a forest as they ride away. They first gallop off at top speed. But as the sun sets, the horsey slows down and starts to transform back into a father. He attempts to put the child to bed, only to fall asleep himself! In a tender final scene, the daughter tucks the father in to bed and turns off the light.
My father read this book to me as a child. It has been 8 years now since he passed away, but when I picked this book up again, I wept like it was only yesterday. It wasn’t simply the fond memories associated with the book. As an adult, I can now appreciate what a beautiful metaphor the book is for the process of ageing, and the inevitable role reversal that must take place between parent and child.
As I prepare for our upcoming picture book workshop, my mind is full of “skills” and “benefits” that can be derived from using quality picture books well. It is true that they hold enormous potential to set a child’s foundation for reading and academic success. But reading Goodnight Horsey, I am reminded of some of the greatest gifts we offer our children with books: the power to feel what’s inside us, know we are not alone, and to find healing.