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Ponyella
Which pony does the diamond horseshoe fit? In this clever retelling of Cinderella, Ponyella longs to show Princess Penelope her fabulous leaps and jumps at the Tippington 25th Annual Grand Royal Pony Championship. But Plumpkin and Bun Bun, the mean ponies she shares a farm with, say that Ponyella's farm chores make her too dirty to be a champion. With a little help from Ponyella's fairy godmare, her coat becomes marshmallow white once again, and her mane silky and beautiful. It's love at first sight for Princess Penelope and Ponyella - but what will happen when the magic runs out at noon? From the best-selling author-illustrator team of the What Mommies Do Best/What Daddies Do Best books comes a playful rendition of Cinderella with an original twist!
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First published January 18, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
September 11, 2012
Ponyella is the Vogon poetry of the children's picture book world. Formats that could be so sweet are instead so painful you'd rather jab a screwdriver through your femoral than acquiesce to your child's demand for another reading. Yeah, sure, the -kid- likes it. If your kid's a self reader and is likely to make enough money to afford therapy in her latter years, by all means, get this book, then lock yourself in your car with the stereo turned way up. Otherwise, handle this book more carefully than a handshake at a late-stage Hansen's Disease convention.
September 14, 2012
A fun twist on the classic Cinderella fairy tale
When Ponyella’s ranch is sold, the new owners bring in two new ponies, Plumpkin and Bun Bun. They are very mean to Ponyella, making fun of her white coat and flowing mane. Then when Princess Penelope shows up looking for a champion pony at the Tippington 25th Annual Pony Championship, Plumpkin and Bun Bun tell Ponyella she is too dirty to go and she is left behind.
In this fantastic re-telling of the Cinderella fairy tale, Ponyella’s fairy godmare shows up, turning an apple core into a horse trailer, a mouse into a driver, and Ponyella into a magnificent pony complete with diamond horseshoes, Ponyella soon makes her way to the Pony Championship. Once there, Plumpkin and Bun Bun don’t recognize Ponyella and Penelope is amazed at how beautiful Ponyella’s looks and how high she jumps. But when the clock strikes noon the magic runs out and Ponyella will have to rush home…losing her diamond horseshoe possibly her chance happily ever after.
A fun twist on the classic Cinderella fairy tale, Ponyella is filled with beautiful illustrations, ponies, and a little magic. A perfect read for all the little girls who ever wanted a pony of their own.
Recommended for readers age 1 and up. Ponyella is available in hardcover at major retailers, but is available exclusively in paperback from Scholastic at select bookfairs.
Ponyella- Laura Numeroff and Nate Evans (Illustrator) Lynn Munsinger http://wp.me/p2E73h-cP
When Ponyella’s ranch is sold, the new owners bring in two new ponies, Plumpkin and Bun Bun. They are very mean to Ponyella, making fun of her white coat and flowing mane. Then when Princess Penelope shows up looking for a champion pony at the Tippington 25th Annual Pony Championship, Plumpkin and Bun Bun tell Ponyella she is too dirty to go and she is left behind.
In this fantastic re-telling of the Cinderella fairy tale, Ponyella’s fairy godmare shows up, turning an apple core into a horse trailer, a mouse into a driver, and Ponyella into a magnificent pony complete with diamond horseshoes, Ponyella soon makes her way to the Pony Championship. Once there, Plumpkin and Bun Bun don’t recognize Ponyella and Penelope is amazed at how beautiful Ponyella’s looks and how high she jumps. But when the clock strikes noon the magic runs out and Ponyella will have to rush home…losing her diamond horseshoe possibly her chance happily ever after.
A fun twist on the classic Cinderella fairy tale, Ponyella is filled with beautiful illustrations, ponies, and a little magic. A perfect read for all the little girls who ever wanted a pony of their own.
Recommended for readers age 1 and up. Ponyella is available in hardcover at major retailers, but is available exclusively in paperback from Scholastic at select bookfairs.
Ponyella- Laura Numeroff and Nate Evans (Illustrator) Lynn Munsinger http://wp.me/p2E73h-cP
February 24, 2017
I'm always attracted to classic fairy tales with a twist and seeing Laura Numeroff's name helped me want to read this book even more. Usually when reading a book similar to a classic fairy tale I hope for a twist to the story line I guess I just hoped for more. It was a cute story that any young girl who loves princesses and horses would enjoy.
April 14, 2011
I was attracted to this book but Numeroff's name and its sweet cover. This is a mostly clever take on the Cinderella tale, with a sad white pony vying for a little girl's heart and an equine championship. It borders on the edge of cloying, and I couldn't figure out why the fairy godmare had a wand when she did her magic by swishing her tail. However, the illustrations are delightful, and I found the picture of the grinning evil step-ponies amusing, as well as their sad fate (becoming children's birthday pony hacks).
Now that my baby is grown I don't get to see nearly enough of the new crop of picture books. I miss them!
Now that my baby is grown I don't get to see nearly enough of the new crop of picture books. I miss them!
June 10, 2020
This title has a fairy Godmare! Oh my!! Yes, it is a very colorful illustration of a Cinderella story involving ponies! Ponyella's dream is to show her owner, Princess Penelope, that she is the pony to win at Tippington 25th Annual Grand Royal Pony Championship! Of course, the path is not always easy, but with believing in the fairy Godmare anything can happen!
Reviewed by: Debbie Hersh, Circulation, Vernon Area Public Library
Reviewed by: Debbie Hersh, Circulation, Vernon Area Public Library
January 7, 2012
Read this to my girls and they really enjoyed it. A modern twist on Cinderella, complete with princesses and ponies...what else could a little girl ask for? Nothing completely new, obviously, but a sweet retelling nonetheless.
April 15, 2011
What could make Cinderella more appealing to little girls?
Lose the prince and have both a princess and horses.
That about sums it up. My daughter loves it and wrote her book report on it.
Lose the prince and have both a princess and horses.
That about sums it up. My daughter loves it and wrote her book report on it.
April 16, 2018
Summary: This book is a fun take on the Fairytale, Cinderella. In the theme of Cinderella, Ponyella’s owners sell the farm, and two new horses and their owner come to live there. The two horses are mean to Ponyella, just like the evil step-sisters in Cinderella, and eventually she becomes a dirty forgotten horse. When she hears that a Princess is going to buy the winner of the Annual Royal Pony Championship she wants to go but of course the other two horses are the ones that the new owners of the farm decides to take with them. Her Fairy godmare, “poof” cleans her up and she’s able to go to the Pony Championship but has to be back before noon. She wins just as the clock strikes noon, and rushes home, losing a horseshoe on the way, just as Cinderella loses her glass slipper. The princess shows up the next day with the horseshoe, and tries to fit it on to all the horses on the farm. The horseshoe only fits Ponyella, so the Princess buys her takes her away from that farm. She takes her to a place where she is loved and cared for and there are no mean horses around to make her feel bad about herself.
My thoughts: I really liked this take on the classical story of Cinderella. This book isn't about a Princess falling in love with a Prince and living happily ever after *rolls eyes* it's about a pony that is bullied by other ponies and ends up feeling unwanted and forgotten. Then she sees her chance to escape a life of loneliness and she takes it. In the end her risk pays off and she ends up in a happy home. It's really such a cute book and I loved every moment of reading it.
Use in Classroom: I'd use this book as a read-aloud. It's perfect for a short but fun read at the end of the school day.
My thoughts: I really liked this take on the classical story of Cinderella. This book isn't about a Princess falling in love with a Prince and living happily ever after *rolls eyes* it's about a pony that is bullied by other ponies and ends up feeling unwanted and forgotten. Then she sees her chance to escape a life of loneliness and she takes it. In the end her risk pays off and she ends up in a happy home. It's really such a cute book and I loved every moment of reading it.
Use in Classroom: I'd use this book as a read-aloud. It's perfect for a short but fun read at the end of the school day.
February 17, 2013
Mommy's review from 10/4/11 -
You'd be hard-pressed to find anything I thought had too much pink. This almost has too much pink for me. I think it's the covers shades of pink. For some reason the cover is too girly for me which doesn't make sense because I do girly.
Anyhoo, this is an awesome story! I was kind of expecting a sugary-sweet nothingness story that would, hopefully, be fun to read. And don't get me wrong, while there are some messages to be had here, it's nothing in depth. It's basically Cinderella with a pony.
But it works. Well! Ponyella rocks and she's the most awesome horse a girl could ever want!
Even though Julia owns hundreds of books of her own I rarely go out with the express purpose of buying a children's book. We don't often reread them and I have a problem paying so much money for a book we'll read one and then hand to Goodwill. I'm just not rich. So we usually use the library for books like these. (Don't ask me how she's accumulated so many darn books. I guess I don't stick to my no buying rule as often as I think.)
But this, I want to own. I can see us rereading this and it's a really cool book. I definitely recommend for any little girl - girly or not!
You'd be hard-pressed to find anything I thought had too much pink. This almost has too much pink for me. I think it's the covers shades of pink. For some reason the cover is too girly for me which doesn't make sense because I do girly.
Anyhoo, this is an awesome story! I was kind of expecting a sugary-sweet nothingness story that would, hopefully, be fun to read. And don't get me wrong, while there are some messages to be had here, it's nothing in depth. It's basically Cinderella with a pony.
But it works. Well! Ponyella rocks and she's the most awesome horse a girl could ever want!
Even though Julia owns hundreds of books of her own I rarely go out with the express purpose of buying a children's book. We don't often reread them and I have a problem paying so much money for a book we'll read one and then hand to Goodwill. I'm just not rich. So we usually use the library for books like these. (Don't ask me how she's accumulated so many darn books. I guess I don't stick to my no buying rule as often as I think.)
But this, I want to own. I can see us rereading this and it's a really cool book. I definitely recommend for any little girl - girly or not!
November 15, 2013
This is actually my daughter's book. She purchased it at the book fair at school this year and she loves it because it is a retelling of the classic Cinderella. I really like the way the author substituted animals to retell this classic tale. The language is very rich and the illustration is very colorful. And because the author uses horses to retell the story, even boys would like this fairy-tale. I thought the author was very clever by demonstrating that being humble and true to oneself will bring good things to him or herself. Especially with Ponyella, she never complained, blamed, or felt sorry for herself when she was mistreated by the other horses. And that reveals how pure her heart is. Because she taught it out, only good things would come to Ponyella.
I would utilize this story by discussing about feelings. I think it is very important for children to express their feelings to each other and especially to the teacher. Sometimes children have a hard time expressing their feelings and we should teach them there are many ways to let out their feeling. They can do it verbally and nonverbally and it should be up to the children how they want to express them.
I would utilize this story by discussing about feelings. I think it is very important for children to express their feelings to each other and especially to the teacher. Sometimes children have a hard time expressing their feelings and we should teach them there are many ways to let out their feeling. They can do it verbally and nonverbally and it should be up to the children how they want to express them.
September 6, 2014
I love any kind of Cinderella story and Ponyella can definitely be added to that list. Numeroff puts a quirky twist on the Cinderella story, this time using ponies. Ponyella is a beautiful white pony that becomes the dirty-worker of the farm when her new owners arrive. Plumpkin and Bun Bun act as the evil antagonists that bully Ponyella throughout the story. "My mane is much nicer than hers...She looks like she's wearing a clown wig!" But these selfish ponies are in for a surprise when they go to the Tippington 25th Annual Grand Royal Pony Championship. Bun Bun and Plumpkin don't even recognize the beautiful Ponyella when she arrives at the competition. But is it enough to impress the princess who judges the Pony Championship?
Ponyella is a great book to introduce young girls to the story of Cinderella. The blunt harshness from the antagonists in the story is used on ponies, making the book more appropriate for a young reader. It shows young girls that being popular and putting others down won't help you win in the long run-a concept much lost by many girls today.
Ponyella is a great book to introduce young girls to the story of Cinderella. The blunt harshness from the antagonists in the story is used on ponies, making the book more appropriate for a young reader. It shows young girls that being popular and putting others down won't help you win in the long run-a concept much lost by many girls today.
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May 2, 2015Numeroff, L., & Evans, N. (2011). Ponyella. New York: New York. Disney/Hyperion
Ponyella is a brilliant retelling of the classic Cinderella tale. Its a instant friendship between princess penelope and Ponyella but the evil ponies hope to ruin Ponyella’s day. Little do they know that the fairy godmare is on her way. This is a story for very young children. The story as short and sweet with great illustrations and a unique setting to go along with. This story would be a challenge to bring in the elementary classroom because it is geared for a very young audience. This book could be used in a preschool setting since the readers would have to be young. In a preschool classroom, students could be first taught the story of Cinderella and then use this book to compare and contrast the story. This would be an excellent story to began to introduce a compare and contrast matrix. Overall, this story is a light and happy story for young readers.
Ponyella is a brilliant retelling of the classic Cinderella tale. Its a instant friendship between princess penelope and Ponyella but the evil ponies hope to ruin Ponyella’s day. Little do they know that the fairy godmare is on her way. This is a story for very young children. The story as short and sweet with great illustrations and a unique setting to go along with. This story would be a challenge to bring in the elementary classroom because it is geared for a very young audience. This book could be used in a preschool setting since the readers would have to be young. In a preschool classroom, students could be first taught the story of Cinderella and then use this book to compare and contrast the story. This would be an excellent story to began to introduce a compare and contrast matrix. Overall, this story is a light and happy story for young readers.
April 4, 2018
In this fun rewrite of Cinderella, Ponyella’s owners sell the farm, and two new horses and their owner come to live there. These two horses are quite mean to Ponyella and eventually Ponyella becomes like Cinderella, forgotten. When she catches wind that a Princess is going to buy the winner of the Annual Royal Pony Championship, she knows this is her chance. Her fairy godmother appears and gets her ready for the Championship, but she must return to the farm by noon. Will Ponyella win the championship and make it back in time? Read this fun tale to find out! I really like this book. Any book having to deal with the story of Cinderella is always a favorite of mine.
September 8, 2019
This book was alright, in terms of cuteness it was very cute. Most likely for children in grade school. This book is an exact spinoff of the movie Cinderella, but with ponies instead.
August 13, 2016
This clever retelling of Cinderella is the story of a young, white pony whose owners sell the farm and leave her behind. The new owner is very nasty to Ponyella, but treats his own two ponies, Bun Bun and Plumpkin, very well. When it's time for all the local ponies to enter the Tippington 25th Annual Grand Royal Pony Championship, Pinyella's fairy godmare shows up in time to help her out. It will be fun for students to compare this story to the original fairy tale. It could also serve as a great mentor text for creating their own fractured fairy tale.
April 7, 2011
I almost totally passed over this Cinderella retelling because I think the title is cheesy, but because it's Laura Numeroff, I sat on the library floor on the last day of book fair and read it aloud to my parent volunteer. I ended up purchasing a copy and using it as a read aloud in first grade - who were studying traditional stories at the time. They LOVED it. Even the boys!@ So 4 stars it is.
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July 29, 2011Cute story of the retelling of an old classic. Ponyella's farm is sold but she gets to stay on the farm. But 2 bossy horses move on the farm and boss Ponyella around. Ponyella has to pull the coal wagon around (what kid would know that today) but dreams of going to the 25th Annual show to jump Princess Penelope finds Ponyella's diamond studded horse shoe and looks for the horse that will fit the horse shoe.
December 5, 2012
My 5-yr old daughter picked this book at a book fair. She looked into the book and told me that this book is about a horse Cinderella. Well, I didn't really get what she meant at first, then we started to read the book together. Oh man it was so fun. We love the part that Sam the Mouse was turned into a driver while he was still holding a piece of cheese. My daughter said she loves the part when Ponyella was turned into a marshmallow white pretty horse.
April 8, 2014
For either your horse/pony enthusiast or your Cinderella fan (and yes, we know which one applies to our family), Ponyella is a cute retelling of Cinderella. Ponyella has a perfectly fine life for a pony until her owners sell her and she gains two evil step-ponies. Her fairy god-mare helps her to find the princess of her dreams...we reread this one a LOT, and I did not get too tired of it to ban it as a choice, which says a lot.
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February 28, 2015I'm surprised by all of the good reviews. I can appreciate a fairy tale re-telling, but this one felt unnecessary. Nothing memorable or clever about the story or the illustrations. Even though it's a very short book, I got that bored/antsy feeling about halfway through where I couldn't wait for it to be over. My 5 year old enjoyed it, but in the future I will reach for other picture books before this one. There are just too many great ones out there to spend much time with Ponyella.
July 23, 2015
This book started out for me as 3.25 stars. I was thinking another retelling of a Cinderella story..please just shoot me, but this one was done in a fun and unique way. And if you are horse crazy, like a lot of kids I know they will love this book.
The ending got a real life Laugh out loud (doesn't happen all that much for me) So it got bumped up to 4 stars. IF you can get me to chuckle... total score!!
The ending got a real life Laugh out loud (doesn't happen all that much for me) So it got bumped up to 4 stars. IF you can get me to chuckle... total score!!
March 9, 2011
I thought this was a welcome change from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and the other books in that series. They were getting a little repetitive. I liked the retelling of Cinderella from the perspective of a pony. I can see this being a very popular book!
November 6, 2011
This is a sweet pony-theme version of the Cinderella story. The story is entertaining and the illustrations are adorable and very pink, so I'm sure this will appeal to young girls. I know our girls liked it a lot. We enjoyed reading this story together.
December 14, 2012
Most of my students are familiar with one or another version of Cinderella in a language other than English. They speak Arabic, Laotian, Russian, Bulgarian....They loved this book and the language was simple enough for them to grasp. It was fun to compare characters and settings between the old classic and this version.
November 30, 2016
Another babysitting read I'll admit I didn't exactly enjoy this one all that much, but that's probably because I've never been a Cinderella OR a pony person xD Anyway though it was basically as the title suggests just Cinderella in Pony form. Nothing too exciting or different all though I did find the artwork cute!
March 18, 2011
A beautiful retelling of cinderella with the main character being a horse and the prince is a princess looking for a prize winning pony. Beautiful illustrations. Quick read. Good for fairytale/pony/horse storytime.
February 26, 2017
it was amazing because the book was mostly about cinderella but we changed it into horses and l like the part when the fairy godmare changed Ponyella to a beautiful white Horse and an eaten apple to a shiny, pretty trailer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2019
I am a big fan of Luara Numeroff’s work and this is another great example of her wonderful books. I love the traditional Cinderella aspect of Ponyella. This is a wonderful reimagined telling of a classic story.
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January 13, 2021NO RATING. This was my favorite book from when I was a kid! I mean, heck, it was a retelling, and about ponies? How could I not love it? The art is very cute. Even when I was a kid I only liked books with pretty art XD
April 4, 2011
Ponyella's dream of showing Princess Penelope her tricks at the pony championship comes true with the help of her fairy godmare.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews