Nighttime Chauffeur, The - Hardcover

Central Park, awash in moonlight and the mysteries of springtime, is the setting for this fulsome offering from Simon and Datz (previous collaborations include Amy the Dancing Bear and The Boy of the Bells ). A sort of Candyland version of the Dylan Thomas classic "The Rocking Horse Winner," this almost feverishly earnest fairy tale begins when Jasper tells his father his seventh-birthday wish: "Just for one night, I want to drive a horse-and-buggy sic around Central Park . . . and I want a beautiful princess with a long golden braid to be my passenger." Enter a magic rocking horse that invites the birthday boy on a nocturnal romp in the park, plus a princess prematurely aged by grief at having lost her "note" (which turns out to be C-sharp). Datz matches Simon's gushing tones with romantic paintings that relentlessly idealize their subjects. Despite the lavish, full-spread illustrations, however, production values are low ("They sky was indigo," begins one sentence) and art and text are not always in sync--for example, Simon makes much of a crescent moon (it "pointed like a curved arrow in the direction of the future and all that was exciting and miraculous in life") even as Datz pictures a big, cheesy full moon. All ages.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Grade 1-2-Jasper's wish for his seventh birthday is to drive a horse and buggy around New York City's Central Park, but his father gently admonishes him to be more realistic. When his birthday gift turns out to be a wooden rocking horse, the boy's initial disappointment is transformed into magical delight when the horse comes to life and his dream comes true. Unfortunately, the promising idea is diminished by the overdone, flowery writing style; run-on sentences; a crowded layout and wordy text; and heavy, dark illustrations. Also, the narrative describes the light of the crescent moon, "which pointed like a curved arrow...," while the accompanying illustration depicts a full moon in the night sky. The sentences are too lengthy and convoluted for reading aloud, and too difficult for the intended audience to read independently. In fact, Jasper's voice is more adult than childlike, and is not believable. Although this story is sure to be a best seller because of Simon's reputation, only her most loyal fans will want to purchase it.
Mary Rinato Berman, New York Public Library
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.