The Lonely Pony

Paula Harrison's The Lonely Pony is a gentle animal story for 6 year olds about a princess who finds a pony standing by herself on the beach.

What happens

Princess Bea lives at Ruby Palace with her dad, King George, her big sister Natasha and her little brother Alfie. She would LOVE a pet. But her dad always says royal palaces and pets don't mix, so Bea looks after any animal that needs her instead.

One afternoon by the sea she spots a little grey-and-white pony all by herself. There's no saddle, no owner and a mane full of tangles. Bea can't leave her there after dark, so she leads her home and hides her in the palace orchard. She calls her Sandy (because the pony rolls on the beach and comes up covered in it).

The trouble is, tomorrow is the Royal Garden Party. Mrs Stickler, the bossy housekeeper, has a million things to do. And Sandy keeps wandering off! There are hoofprints in the vegetable patch, chewed-up roses and a big nose pressed against the parlour window. Natasha thinks it's a cow!

Younger readers will love being in on the secret. Every time a grown-up nearly spots Sandy, you feel Bea's heart thumping along with hers. She's a real animal lover too. She knows to walk up slowly with her hand held out so a pony doesn't get nervous.

There's a bit of detective work as well. When a grass snake gives Sandy a fright and she gallops off, Bea and her best friend Keira follow a trail of hoofprints. But things don't quite add up. Can your reader work out what's going on before Bea does?

It's a sweet, funny story with lots of near misses and a very messy pudding. If you've got a reader who's desperate for a pet of their own, they'll feel right at home with Bea.

What to read next

If this one goes down well, The Lost Puppy has Bea hiding another animal at the palace. This time it's a little dog she hears whimpering somewhere in the royal garden, on the very day important guests are coming to dinner.