My Perfect Pony

MY PERFECT PONY

Author: Gaby Goldsack

Illustrator: Michelle White

Publisher: Parragon Book Service Ltd
Pages: 24
Ages: 4 - 8

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My four year old granddaughters are fascinated with horses. Two of their favourite movies are Spirit and Black Beauty. I don't know how many toy horses they have. So when Faith saw this book she snatched it up and asked if we could take it home.

This story is about a pony named Pepper and his owner Lucy. 

Pepper was not the "most handsome, the smartest, or even the fastest pony, but Pepper did not mind" because "he knew he was the luckiest pony on the farm because Lucy - the sweetest, kindest, most loving little girl that a pony could ever wish to meet - owned him."

The other children laughed at Pepper but Lucy told Pepper that the children were jealous because he was the best Pony on the whole farm.




When Lucy tells Pepper that they are going to enter a horse show. Pepper feels bad. He is afraid to let Lucy down because he thinks all the other ponies are better than him.

Pepper sneaks out in the middle of the night to practice. The other ponies wake and laugh at him.

That night Pepper dreams about the beautiful Great White Horse wearing a silver charm. 

The Horse shows the pony images of Pepper and Lucy together and says, "it doesn't matter what happens tomorrow. You are brave, loyal, and kind. You are the perfect pony for Lucy. Just be yourself tomorrow and everything will be all right!"




Lucy and Pepper win a few ribbons. At the end of the show, Pepper wins the blue ribbon and Lucy receives the Lucky Charm Award for best pony in the show. 

Pepper is surprised. Lucy's necklace looked exactly like the won the Great White Horse wore!

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This is a beautiful story about a little girl who loves her pony so much that she doesn't see any flaws in him. 

And about a pony who learns to accept himself as he is and in doing so accomplishes things he never thought possible.I find the illustrations simple, cute and vibrant.

Please feel free to leave your comments. I would love to hear from you. 

What did you think of this book?

MORTIMER

MORTIMER

Written by Robert Munsch & Illustrated by Michael Martchenko

Publisher: Annick Press

• Paperback: 32 pages

• Ages: 3 and up

My Granddaughters love this story so much that I am asked to read this story over and over - sometimes twice on one night.

We loved Murmel, Murmel Murmel by Robert Munsch so much that we decided to read more of his books starting with this one.

The cover makes me laugh because I imagine my Granddaughter's face as she sings-shouts with Mortimer. She is too cute for words.

In my opinion this story starts off a little strange. Mortimer's mother opened the door to his room and throws him into bed and says, "MORTIMER BE QUIET." 

How rude! Mortimer looks so small in his big fluffed up bed. What kind of mother is she?

But as soon as the mother gets downstairs, Mortimer (and my Granddaughter) sing at the top of their lungs,

Clang, clang, rattle-bing-bang

Gonna make my noise all day.

Clang, clang, rattle-bing-bang

Gonna make my noise all day.

Just look at Mortimer on the book cover singing his heart out just as my little angels sing.

Well Mortimer makes so much noise that his father goes into Mortimer's room and yells, "MORTIMER BE QUIET." 

Mortimer is compliant and shakes his head, yes. But as soon as father gets downstairs Mortimer sings his song again. And once again my little Hunny Bunny sings too.

Mortimer's seventeen brothers and sisters tell Mortimer to be quiet.  Then the police do the same. But every time he is left alone in his room, Mortimer sings his song at the top of his lungs.

No one knew what to do about Mortimer. Everyone starts to fight with each other. It's their turn to make a lot of noise. 

In the meantime, Upstairs, Mortimer got so tired waiting for someone to come up that he fell asleep.

Author and Illustrator Mark Teague

MARK CHRISTOPHER TEAGUE BIOGRAPHY

Born 1963, in La Mesa, CA; Education: University of California, Santa Cruz, B.A., 1985. 

Mark Teague and his family live in upstate New York. He worked in a bookstore after college. His job was to set up the books for display. The children's books made him remember his childhood. As a boy, he had written his own stories and drawn pictures for them. Working in the bookstore inspired Mark Teague. He soon began his grown-up career as a writer and illustrator of children's books. Today, he illustrates his own and other authors' books.

http://www.eduplace.com/kids/tnc/mtai/teague.html

http://www.scholastic.com/titles/dinogoodnight/moreteague.htm

MORE BOOKS BY MARK TEAGUE

We have not read any of the other books by Mark Teague. I know that if I see one I will pick it up.

Mark Teague has delighted young readers with more than 20 picture books, and he has written many of them himself, including the popular Pigsty, Baby Tamer,and One Halloween Night. He is also the illustrator of Cynthia Rylant's beloved Poppleton series for beginning readers. Mark and his wife live in Coxsackie, New York, with their young daughter Lily, who had a great time watching her dad paint the dinosaurs in How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?

Check out this site to learn more about this author,

http://www.scholastic.com/titles/dinogoodnight/moreteague.htm

I have created links, shown in blue to Amazon where you can see the cover of the book, preview a few pages and see other reader reviews. I use to avoid clicking on links thinking I was going to be taken to a site which would charge me or give my computer a virus. For newbies, don't be afraid to click on the links.

Writings Self Illustrated

·       TheTrouble with the Johnsons, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1989.

·       Mark Teague (Photograph by Laura Teague. Reproduced by permission of Mark Teague.)

·       Moog-Moog,Space Barber, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1990.

·       FrogMedicine, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1991.

·       TheField beyond the Outfield, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1991.

·       Pigsty, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1994.

·       HowI Spent My Summer Vacation, Crown (New York, NY), 1995.

·       TheSecret Shortcut, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996.

·       BabyTamer, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997.

·       TheLost and Found, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998.

·       OneHalloween Night, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999.

·       Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

·       DetectiveLaRue: Letters from the Investigation, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004.

Illustrator

·       What Are Scientists, What Do They Do?, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1991.

·       Adventures in Lego Land, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1991.

·       Chris Babcock, No Moon, No Milk!, Crown (New York, NY), 1993.

·       Dick King-Smith, Three TerribleTrins, Crown (New York, NY), 1994.

·       Tony Johnston, The Iguana Brothers,A Perfect Day, Blue Sky Press (New York, NY), 1995.

·       Audrey Wood, The Flying Dragon Room, Blue Sky Press (New York, NY), 1996.

·       Dick King-Smith, Mr. Potter's Pet, Hyperion (New York, NY), 1996.

·       Cynthia Rylant, Poppleton, Blue Sky Press (New York, NY), 1997.

·       Cynthia Rylant, Poppleton and Friends:Book Two, Blue Sky Press (New York, NY), 1997.

·       Cynthia Rylant, Poppleton Forever, Blue Sky Press (New York, NY), 1998.

·       Audrey Wood, Sweet Dream Pie, Blue Sky Press (New York, NY), 1998.

·       Cynthia Rylant, Poppleton Everyday, Blue Sky Press (New York, NY), 1998.

·       Cynthia Rylant, Poppleton in Fall, Blue Sky Press (New York, NY), 1999.

·       Cynthia Rylant, Poppleton in Spring, Blue Sky Press (New York, NY), 1999.

·       Cynthia Rylant, Poppleton Has Fun, Blue Sky Press (New York, NY), 2000.

·       Cynthia Rylant, Poppleton in Winter, Blue Sky Press (New York, NY), 2001.

·       Cynthia Rylant, The Great Gracie Chace, Blue Sky Press (New York, NY), 2001.

·       Shana Corey, First Graders fromMars: Episode One, Horus's Horrible Day, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001.

·       Shana Corey, First Graders fromMars: Episode Two, The Problem with Pelly, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

·       Shana Corey, First Graders fromMars: Episode Three, Nergal and the Great Space Race, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

·       Shana Corey, First Graders fromMars: Episode Four, Tera, Star Student, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

·       Anne Isaacs, Pancakes for Supper!, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2006.

ILLUSTRATOR; "HOW DO DINOSAURS" SERIES

·       Jane Yolen, How Do Dinosaurs SayGoodnight?, Blue Sky Press (New York, NY), 2000.

·       Jane Yolen, How Do Dinosaurs GetWell Soon?, Blue Sky Press (New York, NY), 2003.

·       Jane Yolen, How Do Dinosaurs CleanTheir Rooms?, Blue Sky Press (New York, NY), 2004.

·       Jane Yolen, How Do Dinosaurs Countto Ten?, Blue Sky Press (New York, NY), 2004.

·       Jane Yolen, How Do Dinosaurs EatTheir Food?, Blue Sky Press (New York, NY), 2005.

·       Jane Yolen, How Do Dinosaurs LearnTheir Colors?, Blue Sky Press (New York, NY), 2006.

·       Jane Yolen, How Do Dinosaurs Playwith Their Friends?, Blue Sky Press (New York, NY), 2006.

This is not a complete list of Mark Teague books. 

Read more: Mark Teague (1963–) Biography - Personal, Addresses, Career, Member, Honors Awards, Writings, Sidelights - Review, York, Scholastic, and Blue - JRank Articles http://biography.jrank.org/pages/2316/Teague-Mark-1963.html#ixzz1w8jabfDL

  

FUNNY FARM

Written and Illustrated by Mark Teague

Scholastic Inc.ISBN 978-0-439-91499-4 HC

32 Pages

Ages 4-8

While researching other books by Mark Teague, I came across this one and thought I would share it with you. It looks pretty funny to me and I am sure my granddaughters would giggle at the pictures. There is nothing more endearing and infectious than hearing a small child giggle.

This is the description for the book. Join Edward as he pitches in with the chores on his first visit to Hawthorne Farm – where the pigs play practical jokes, the sheep brush their teeth before heading out to graze, and the mice churn their own butter. 

It is a day that Edward will never forget – a funny day on a funny farm.

 http://scholasticcanada.ca/titles/funnyfarm/