The Road to Somewhere

When Cow tells Ratty that farmer is sending her to never-come-back, action is needed. Ratty is known to be a good thinker and he comes up with a plan to leave the farm and find Somewhere-else. As the two friends escape, they are joined by Woolly, a rather grumpy sheep who has no illusions about what it means to have a number painted on his back rather than be given a name. What is to be a picaresque journey begins.

Initially rather arch, this agreeable first novel soon gets into its stride with touches of humour and increasingly engaging characters. Cow proves to be less dippy than Ratty had supposed and she pulls her weight unexpectedly at crucial moments. The animals plan to reach a city farm where they will be safe, but, quite apart from the other dangers they encounter on their way, they are pursued by the menacing figure of the farmer who is aided by his dog, the Machiavellian Doggo.

Horse's well ordered, beautifully drawn illustrations with their delicate cross-hatching make good use of the page and of the dramatic moments in the story.