Tera's Dawn

Tera's Dawn by Susan K. Schank and illustrated by Denise Seah is the story of a wild horse who is captured. Upon captivity, she discovers her mother in her new, domesticated home. She then devises a way to free them both, which is imminently important as her mother is getting old and is no longer useful as a plow horse. They succeed in escaping and return to the wild herd.

By the soft glow of the full moon, Tera and her mother galloped back toward the meadow that was their home. Passing the willow grove, Tera knew they would be back with the herd by morning. She thought about the last several months. She would not have been able to free her mother if she had not been captured.

As a child, I had a strong affinity for horses. My daughter has inherited this affinity, and Tera's Dawn speaks directly to these equine interests. I love the illustrations, and the story illuminates the love between a mother and daughter, no matter what the species.