Princess and The Pony, The

This humourous Canadian picture book follows Princess Pinecone, who asks for a big, strong warhorse for her birthday, but instead receives a small, round, cross-eyed, and flatulent pony. She discovers that even warriors have cuddly sides and that nobody has just one thing that makes them who they are. An entertaining independent read or read-aloud for grades 2-4, it can provide an effective opening for discussions on first impressions and assumptions about individuals and groups. Students will enjoy the detailed, cartoon-style illustrations that include many surprising and incongruous details.