The Big Secret

This first book in the Tales of Sasha series focuses on a horse who doesn’t fit in with her fellow equines. Sasha loves to run and longs to explore beyond the confines of Verdant Valley. Her displacement begins to make more sense after her parents reveal that they originally found her during a rainstorm—and after she sprouts giant wings from her back. Smoothly incorporated into each page, Sordo’s black-and-white artwork (not all seen by PW) has a fresh, cartoony look that feels squarely aimed at fans of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. The story’s straightforward language is well-crafted for beginning readers, and what the story lacks in humor it makes up for with adventure, particularly during Sasha’s accidental plunge off a mountain when her wings make their first appearance. Available simultaneously: Journey Beyond the Trees. Ages 6–8. Illustrator’s agency: Advocate Art. (Jan.)