Kate Beaton, The Princess and the Pony, Walker Books, 1 August 2015, 32pp., $14.95 (pbk), ISBN 9781406365382
In a kingdom of warriors, Princess Pinecone is the smallest of them all. She dreams of becoming the bravest, and winning the warrior tournament. All she needs is a big, strong horse for her birthday. But sometimes parents get things wrong and Pinecone ends up with a small, round pony which eats things it shouldn’t and farts a lot. Try as she might, she has no success training the pony. The day of the tournament arrives and a vicious battle ensues. Pinecone bravely enters the fray and reaches for her spitballs. Otto the Awful charges at her but suddenly stops. His eyes grow wide as he tickles the cute pony under the chin. Soon the whole rabble stops to admire the pony. Confused at first, Pinecone realises she can help the warriors get in touch with their ‘cuddly side’ and the duo become the Most Valuable Warriors of the Day.
This quirky tale with its comic illustrations is fun to read out loud and had my Year Two class enthralled and giggling. It is a refreshingly different ‘princess’ book with lots of surprises. Digging deeper, this story could spark discussions about stereotypes, doing your best, playing to your strengths and the power of love. Recommended for lower primary.
Activity pages can be found on the author’s website.
Classroom Ideas can be found on the Walker Books website.
An interview with the author can be found on the Readings website.
Reviewed by Sharon Seymour.
