Noni the Pony (Noni the Pony #1)

by Alison Lester (Author) Alison Lester (Illustrator)

Noni the Pony (Noni the Pony #1)
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
Series: Noni the Pony
Author/illustrator Lester introduces Noni the pony, who is friendly and funny and lives at Waratah Bay, where her best friends are Dave Dog and Coco the cat. Full color.
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Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

It's the most adorable title to come down the pike in a long time--and it delivers on every page, even if it's little more than a catalogue of the eponymous character's sunny niceness. Noni, a plump, orange-dappled darling, is "Gentle and kind, / and never lets anyone get left behind." Her days are filled with frolicking, but if she gets spooked at night ("When the leaves rustle and sigh in the breeze, / Noni thinks monsters are shaking the trees") she has best buddies Dave Dog and Coco the Cat to provide emergency snuggle assistance. Fans of Lester (Running with the Horses) know that she's an expert horse portraitist, but she opts for a radically streamlined approach in this outing, rendering Noni and her friends as a simple, toylike shapes with just enough details to reveal a cheerful, openhearted character: eager round eyes, a sweet little smile, and--in Noni's case--a wavy mane and tail. There's not a whisper of dramatic tension or narrative arc, but no matter: it's a safe bet that readers will follow her anywhere. Ages 2-5. (Oct.)

Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

PreS-K—Rhyming books that are well done are music to the ear, and this one is just that. Noni is a carefree pony who spends her days on the farm cantering and galloping, to the delight of the other farm animals. Her best friends, Dave Dog and Coco the Cat, share in her play and take care of one another when care is needed. When Dave Dog inadvertently falls behind the others, Noni "never lets anyone get left behind." The illustration extends the text with Coco the Cat atop Noni's back looking alarmed as they wait for Dave Dog to catch up. That kind of detail in the illustrations is perfect for this age group, which relies on the pictures to help them decode the words. Later, a spread shows Noni being a little frightened of the woods as night falls and she imagines monsters rustling the leaves. Sharp-eyed children who look at the illustration carefully will see some hidden monsters, but they are not front and center and the smiles on their faces suggest that they are of the kindhearted variety. When Noni is frightened, it is Dave and Coco who snuggle with her until they all fall asleep. Lester's illustrations are charmingly done in black outline with pencil, watercolor, and collage interiors. Simple and bold, with uncluttered backgrounds, they will attract the youngest readers, and the soothing ending will satisfy them.—Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"Noni, friendly and funny, is the perfect pony for preschoolers. Like Noni herself, the light rhyme, bustling with rhythm and easy to read, is friendly and funny.... Each couplet is accompanied by Lester's droll illustrations.... The gentle ending, with pony and friends cuddled up for bed, slows the trotting long enough— just the way a book for toddlers should end. Night-night, Noni."—Kirkus Reviews, August 2012
Alison Lester
The Children's Laureate Alison Lester grew up on a farm overlooking the sea. She still lives in the country and rides her horse, Woollyfoot, whenever she can. Her picture books mix imaginary worlds with everyday life, encouraging children to celebrate the differences that make them special. Her alter ego, Sophie Scott, was inspired by her own voyage to Antarctica as an Antarctic Arts Fellow. Visit www.alisonlester.net.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781442459595
Lexile Measure
640
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Beach Lane Books
Publication date
October 30, 2012
Series
Noni the Pony
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV057000 - Juvenile Fiction | Stories in Verse (see also Poetry)
JUV002130 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Horses
Library of Congress categories
Stories in rhyme
Ponies
JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Horses

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