Molly the pony A true story

Gr 1-4-Molly, a pony, was found in an abandoned barn two weeks after Hurricane Katrina. Once rescued, she was groomed and given a home with other ponies at a stable. One day a dog bit her and the wound did not heal. Her leg was amputated and she was fitted with a prosthetic leg. When Molly was able to walk again, she began visiting children in hospitals and adults in a retirement home. The even tone in Kaster's text renders what might be a maudlin story into an engaging narrative. Unattributed dialogue describes the scene of Molly's rescue, which provides context for readers. High-quality color photos thoughtfully placed on nearly every page capture the tranquility of this pony and the many places she visited. This unique and well-crafted book will appeal to beginning readers everywhere, who will cheer and be inspired by Molly as she overcomes obstacles and enjoys a productive life.-Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MI (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Molly the Pony Chapter One Hurricane Katrina A storm was coming. All day long, cars and trucks filled with people and pets drove away to safety. By nighttime, everyone was gone except a small pony named Molly. Molly was left alone in a barn. She waited for someone to take her away, too. In the morning, the sky filled with clouds. The wind roared. A huge tree fell on Molly's barn. It rained and rained. It rained so much that water came into the barn. Molly stood in a small space in her stall to keep dry. Finally, the rain stopped, and the sun came out. Molly found some hay to nibble, and little puddles of water to drink. Still, no one came for Molly. She waited some more. One morning, Molly heard voices. "A pony is trapped in there!" one said. "Are you sure? It's been two weeks since Hurricane Katrina!" said another. "The door is blocked by a tree. We'll have to cut a hole in the barn to get her out!" Soon, Molly was outside in the sunshine. "It's good your owners left hay in your stall," someone said. "They must have expected to be away only a few days. No one knew the hurricane would cause so much damage." Molly was led to a trailer. The trailer took her away from the barn. When the trailer stopped, a lady led Molly into a small pasture. "You can stay here on Ms. Kaye's farm until your owners come to get you," she said. MOLLY THE PONY. Text copyright (c) 2012 by Pam Kaster. Excerpted from Molly the Pony by Pam Kaster All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.