Snow Pony and the Seven Miniature Ponies

Sima’s ornate text-box frames and bountiful sparkles that follow Snow Pony add to the fairy-tale mystique. Wryly magical.

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.

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.)

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