Kiki & Me

LoveReading4Kids Says

Leo Timmers combines dramatic, visually arresting landscape scenes with detailed, lively black and white ink portraits to tell an unforgettable story of the special relationship between a little girl and her horse.

We’re a couple of pages in before it becomes clear that the narrator is the horse emerging from the horsebox to meet new owner, Kiki. It’s love at first sight for both and as Kiki “gets used” to her new friend they have more and more adventures together.

The black and white pages are close ups on their relationship, the horse commenting on all that’s going on, “Kiki could talk for hours! She told me what happened at school, read to me from her diary, and whispered her secrets.” The full colour, wordless spreads show us the two galloping across a beach, running from a storm, climbing a hill in the sunset.

Dramatically different to the black and white pages, they’re visually stunning. As Kiki grows older though, something changes. She has a new friend, and the horse sees her less and less. Never fear though, Kiki’s love is a strong as ever and the story ends with four adventurers heading out: “Kiki knew where to go.”

The beauty and warmth of the illustrations are enough to recommend this but there’s so much more besides in this story of friendship and growing up. It will transport horse and pony lovers to seventh heaven, but anyone who shares their life with an animal will appreciate the story at the heart of this wonderful book.

Reviewed by Andrea Reece
Andrea Reece has spent almost her entire working life in children’s books, first as publisher, latterly as consultant, project manager and critic.
More reviews by Andrea Reece

About Kiki & Me

First there was a long, windy road. Then I heard voices. The gate lowered . . . and there she was. Kiki.

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