Barbara Wheatley (Children's Literature)
Award-winning author and illustrator Susan Jeffers uses real events to create the tale of a young girl named Julie who longs for a Chincoteague pony of her own. Julie loves ponies and reads Marguerite Henry’s Misty of Chincoteague over and over. Jeffers weaves the legend of the Chincoteague ponies and the tale of how they are herded yearly from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island for Pony Penning Day into this story. Julie works all year to earn money for Pony Penning Day, yet when the day arrives, she still does not have enough money to buy a pony of her own. Strangers help Julie by giving her money, carrying on a time-honored tradition of helping a child buy her own pony. The author’s note explains the history behind this story, as well as the author’s long love affair with Chincoteague ponies and Marguerite Henry’s books. A copy of a letter from Henry to Jeffers is included. Jeffers’ beautiful, soft artwork complements the heart warming story she creates. This is a picture book that should be added to any collection alongside Henry’s Chincoteague books. 2008, Hyperion Books for Children/Disney Book Group, $16.99. Ages 5 to 12.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, May 15, 2008 (Vol. 76, No. 10))
Young Julia, a horse-mad little girl, wants a pony of her own. She saves her pennies and attends the Chincoteague pony auction, but she doesn't have quite enough. Others in the gathered crowd, seeing her distress, hand her bills, and, when a foal is unexpectedly returned, she makes the winning bid. Some background on the legend of the ponies' Spanish origins and on the details of Chincoteague's annual Pony Penning Day helps to fill out this slight tale. Inspired by the author's childhood fondness for Marguerite Henry's classic works and an actual Chincoteague pony auction event, this rather bland tale plays up the romantic notion of horse ownership without much consideration for the realities. Moreover, the ink-and-watercolor illustrations pale in comparison to the playful liveliness of Wesley Dennis's, invoked in the introduction. Stiff compositions, often awkward poses and corny expressions on little Julia's face combine to make this a visually tepid experience. The large trim and appealing pony on the cover will make kids reach for it, but the contents don't live up to the packaging. 2008, Hyperion, 40p, $16.99. Category: Picture book. Ages 4 to 8. © 2008 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Jennifer MacKay (Library Media Connection, March 2008)
Any young girl who has ever ached for her own pony will feel at home among the pages of this book. It follows a young farm girl through a year of chores so she can bid on a pony at Chincoteague Island's Pony Penning Day. Her heart breaks as she is outbid again and again, but when gracious auction-goers begin passing her their extra change, she finally has enough to take the last pony home. She vows to work hard again the following year, not for another pony, but to donate her money for another child's bid. Susan Jeffers' award-winning artistry depicts the beauty of the annual and historical horse events that take place on Assateague and Chincoteague islands. The author's introductory explanation and her maps of the title island place this true story in its local context. A photocopy of her correspondence with horse-book author Marguerite Henry gives an added boost of authenticity to this snapshot of a young child's longing for her first pony. This book will have broad appeal for that group of young readers always clamoring for a great story about horses. Recommended. 2008, Hyperion Books for Children/Disney Publishing Worldwide, 40pp., $16.99 hc.. Ages 5 to 10.

Deborah Stevenson (The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, July 2008 (Vol. 61, No. 11))
Farm girl Julie has long dreamed of having her own pony, and with her parents’ permission, she labors hard to make enough money to purchase one of the famed Chincoteague Ponies, who are annually thinned by being rounded up and auctioned off in order to reduce pressure on their island habitat. Once at the auction, Julie is dismayed to find that all the ponies, including a beautiful pinto filly she’s set her heart on, sell for prices beyond her meager funds. Her luck changes, however, when sympathetic crowd members contribute small sums that mount up, and when the filly returns for resale, the auctioneer declares Julie the buyer; the grateful girl then decides to earn enough money in the next year to pass the favor on to some other budget-bound pony seeker. There’s not a lot of logic here, since if Julie couldn’t get enough money in a year when she didn’t have a pony to support and take care of, she’s unlikely to earn more the next year (or even to make back more than the costs of the trip itself), and it’s never explained why her accompanying mother can’t chip in herself or decides to allow the acceptance of the funds. The pony-acquisition story is nonetheless one that will appeal to horse lovers, and the brief overview of the famous Chincoteague Pony Penning Day will intrigue youngsters unfamiliar with this colorful event. The gouache and colored-ink art, bordered with tidy lines, is at its best with the ponies, who evince a dreamy, toylike charm that will go straight to the heart of young horse fanciers; human figures run to the stiff and cartoonish, and the watery elements lack any suggestion of fluidity. In an opening author’s note, Jeffers explains her youthful fascination with the classic horse story Misty of Chincoteague (and includes a letter from its late author, Marguerite Henry) and states that the story is inspired by a real-life instance of auction-crowd generosity. Despite the book’s flaws, this would double well with Doyle’s Horse, reviewed above, and kids too young for Misty will want to start here Review Code: Ad -- Additional book of acceptable quality for collections needing more material in the area. (c) Copyright 2006, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2008, Hyperion, 32p., $16.99. Ages 4-7 yrs.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2008)
Julie saves her money to buy a pony at auction on Chincoteague Island's Pony Penning Day. With the help of generous strangers, she achieves her dream. The affecting tale is gently expressed by the softly limned, pastel-colored illustrations, which show the origins of the Chincoteague ponies, the road to the auction, and an almost magical glow once girl and pony are united. Category: Picture Books. 2008, Hyperion, 32pp, $16.99 (hb). Ages 4 to 9. Rating: 2: Superior, well above average.