Retired logger Jean du Bois rescues an orphaned moose calf. Raised in the barnyard, young Muskeg forms a special bond with Kate, the gentle draft horse. When Kate becomes too old and tired to pull the wagon and plow, Jean du Bois fears he will have to give up his beloved farm and move to town―until his grandson and Muskeg show him a clever solution to his problem. K-Gr 2–This long picture book stars an orphaned moose calf that is found by a lumberjack, Jean du Bois, on his way to live his retirement on a farm. His workhorse becomes a mother to Muskeg, and as one grows older and more tired, the other flourishes. Eventually the workhorse is too old to help on the farm and Jean worries that he will have to sell the land. A visit from his grandson leads to a happy solution. The story is set in Maine, features French-Canadian characters, and includes French words and phrases. Realistic watercolor paintings help to bring life to the story, but the beauty of the illustrations isn't enough to make this a worthy purchase. The dialogue often seems forced and formal, and children will have trouble relating to the writing style. While Christmas plays a role in the climax of the tale, this would not be categorized as a holiday story. Lora Van Marel, Orland Park Public Library, IL © Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.