Review by Booklist Review
Snow White gets an equine makeover in this funny reimagining of the fairy-tale classic. Snow Pony lives a happy life on a farm where she is beloved by children, Charmaine most of all. Together, they lead dance lessons and hair-braiding parties, but Queenie, a dappled pony, is incredibly jealous of Snow Pony's popularity. One night, Queenie leaves a trail of apples leading deep into the woods, and, just as she'd hoped, Snow Pony follows the tasty treats and becomes lost. Thankfully, she comes across a small stable, home to seven miniature ponies who take in the lost beauty. Though Snow Pony has a wonderful time with the mini-ponies, she can't forget her precious Charmaine and knows it's time to return home. Trimmer's tongue-in-cheek story is fully aware of its ridiculous premise not to mention the irresistible adorableness of miniature horses but readers lured by these won't be disappointed. Sima trots out soft, pastel-like artwork, created in Photoshop, that playfully depicts Snow Pony's journey and the enchanted, fairy-tale atmosphere, and the large illustrations make group sharing a breeze.--Julia Smith Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In what might be a send-up of a popular entertainment franchise, Trimmer (Simon's New Bed) retells the "Snow White" story with ponies in all the important roles. The story fits surprisingly neatly into its new form: "Once upon a time there was a pony who had a coat as white as snow and a mane as black as ebony." In addition to being beautiful, Snow Pony hosts performances with her human friend, Charmaine, and Charmaine's dog, Hunter. When jealous Queenie lures Snow Pony away from farm and stage and into the woods (using apples, naturally), she encounters the seven miniature ponies of the title. Rendered by Sima (Not Quite Narwhal), they're a fresh upgrade from dwarfs; each is a different color, with forelocks that hang cunningly over their eyes, and each has a special role ("'I gather water.' 'I take care of the bees.' 'I'm a tax attorney'"). The new ending trades princely kisses for a friendly reunion and an improved performance retinue. This book will top the pile of bedtime favorites in horse-loving households, with jokes thrown in for the grown-ups, to boot. Ages 4-8. Agent: Thao Le, Sandra Dijkstra & Assoc. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-Children come from miles around to see the aptly named Snow Pony, whose coat is the color of snow and whose mane is as dark as ebony. Known for her hair-braiding and line-dancing skills, Snow Pony regularly puts on shows for an adoring public, along with her best friend, a little girl named Charmaine, and Hunter the dog. But a rival pony, the jealous Queenie, is determined to seize the spotlight and subject the crowds to scrapbooking lessons. This retelling softens the edges of "Snow White" and jettisons the romance in favor of a friendship-heavy plot. No poison here-Queenie merely distracts Snow Pony with a trail of apples that lead her into the woods, where she gets lost and meets seven miniature ponies. While Snow Pony immediately bonds with her new pals, she longs to see Charmaine and Hunter again (and her pals are just as worried about her). Bright illustrations depict winsome settings and characters. Accompanied by sparkling stars, Snow Pony cuts a graceful figure, while the endearingly eccentric, diminutive ponies are squat, with long manes covering their eyes. This version of the tale strikes a whimsical note, eschewing snark in favor of offbeat but kid-friendly humor, and though on the lengthy side, it'll easily grab children's attention. VERDICT Fairy-tale reimaginings are common, but this quirky one more than holds its own. A superb story for longer read-alouds and one-on-one sharing.-Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
An equine retelling of a classic fairy tale, with many, many twists.Snow Pony is a stunning mare with a snow-white coat and a black, braided mane (hair braiding is one of her specialtiesthose are some clever hooves). She loves to put on shows with her favorite friend, Charmaine (a medium-tan gal with long black hair, also perfect for braiding). Children come for miles around to see the shows. Queenie, a dappled mare, is jealous of all the attention lavished on Snow Pony. She decides to trick her, leaving a trail of (nonpoisonous) apples leading out the gate, into the dark, scary forest. Snow Pony eats the apples and finds herself lost. But then she comes across a stable with seven tiny stalls. Interestingly, the story here takes a "Goldilocks" turn: Seven shaggy miniature ponies return to find someone has nibbled their hay, eaten 77 sugar cubes, and is asleep in their stall. The ponies introduce themselves (adults will get a chuckle out of the bespectacled tax-attorney pony). Snow Pony joins them for a while but misses Charmaine. They figure out a way back to the farm, and mean ol' Queenie gets her comeuppance (a large glue bottle is a shocking clue until a page turn reveals the true ending). Sima's ornate text-box frames and bountiful sparkles that follow Snow Pony add to the fairy-tale mystique. Wryly magical. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
