Pony Poems for Little Pony Lovers

Aren’t ponies the best? The apple-cheeked children in this collection of short poems certainly think so. “My pony knows me./ He hears me when I come,” says a girl pushing a wheelbarrow full of carrots into a barn. “He lifts his head./ He neighs my name./ He is my Sugar Plum.” Except for one rambunctious pony (who “bucked me off—/ twice!”), the group exudes a serenity and confidence that comes with being unequivocally cute and unconditionally adorable: “I am a pretty little pony,/ as pretty as can be,” says the narrator of the only poem not voiced by a human. All the girls at riding school/ are crazy over me!” The pony paeans by Meister (the Fairy Hill series) lack a consistently smooth lilt yet offer enough pleasing singsong rhythm to hold the attention of very young readers. Debut illustrator Rhys renders her chunky equine subjects as if from a single template (they all sport rounded faces, cute pony bangs, and a hint of a smile), but genuine individuality seems beside the point here. In pony love, the heart knows what it wants: more ponies. Ages up to 8. [em](Feb.) [/em]