Many young girls dream of being able to ride a horse or, in this case, a pony. Few probably have the opportunity. Annie has a good friend named Jill whose mother has a pony farm and offers riding lessons. Off Annie and her friend Meg go for their lesson. This time, they are learning to ride without holding on to the reins. One of the horses, Rosy, has a foal named Surprise that is one month old that day. (Note: It is pretty hard to believe that a knowledgeable woman like Jill's mother would not know that one of her horses was pregnant). During the lesson, Annie is distracted by watching the foal and falls off her pony. Will she bravely get back on, or will the fall keep her from her dream of soma day riding Surprise? Horse loves will enjoy the watercolor illustrations and sympathize with Annie and her final decision. For parents, there is a note about reading skills development on the opening page. This book is identified as a level 1 entry in the "I Can Read!" series, which means it has simple sentences for eager new readers. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

PreS-Gr 2—Annie, Jill, and Meg, aka the Pony Scouts, are learning to ride horses on Jill's farm. During her lesson, Annie works on her balance but falls off her pony when she becomes distracted. She isn't hurt, but she is frightened. Her friends and Jill's mother try to encourage her to get back on, but it is the prospect of riding the foal, Surprise, someday that helps Annie to relax and try again. Realistic color illustrations assist readers with visual clues. This book will hold children's interest, especially girls who love horse stories.—Melissa Smith, Royal Oak Public Library, MI