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Snow Ponies
Magical ponies create the first snowfall of winter
On a cold, gray day, Old Man Winter leads his snow ponies outside. "Are you ready?" he asks. Yes! Faster and faster the ponies gallop. Everything they touch turns white with snow as they bring winter to the forest and field.
At last the ponies tire, and Old Man Winter settles them down for the night in their cozy barn. Outside, the world is covered with a soft white blanket. Winter has come at last.
Simple, poetic text and evocative illustrations capture the magic of winter's first snowfall.
On a cold, gray day, Old Man Winter leads his snow ponies outside. "Are you ready?" he asks. Yes! Faster and faster the ponies gallop. Everything they touch turns white with snow as they bring winter to the forest and field.
At last the ponies tire, and Old Man Winter settles them down for the night in their cozy barn. Outside, the world is covered with a soft white blanket. Winter has come at last.
Simple, poetic text and evocative illustrations capture the magic of winter's first snowfall.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2001
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 19, 2015
This is a beautifully told and illustrated story that will capture any young child's imagination. Perfect for any time of the year, but especially Christmas. Old Man Winter releases his snow ponies from their stables, setting them free to frolic across the landscape, changing it from warm autumnal hues to the deep white of winter. 'Creatures of forest and field shiver' and get out of the way. The squirrel curls up in its oak, the fox snuggles in its den and the songbirds hide in the holly as the ponies become wilder, kicking up their heels and spinning around...and so the soft illustrations become more and more covered in snow.
This is such an original idea. I loved it....right down to the carefully increasing pace of the text until, at last, the snow ponies tire, return to their stables and 'everything is white, as far as the eye can see. Old Man Winter smiles.'
This is such an original idea. I loved it....right down to the carefully increasing pace of the text until, at last, the snow ponies tire, return to their stables and 'everything is white, as far as the eye can see. Old Man Winter smiles.'
May 12, 2015
I really enjoyed this well-written gentle tale of Old Man Winter releasing his ponies to cover forest and fields in snow. The story is complimented by magical illustrations of soft hues. I love the continuous bits of confetti-like colors that float across each page. I also like the contrast between the peaceful night and the rambunctious ponies, along with poetic lines such as “Their whinnies and whickers whistle through the trees.”
September 10, 2020
A wonderful wintertime read-aloud.
July 30, 2025
Hate winter? Apparently, it's all the fault of Old Man Winter's small herd of snow ponies. Because Old Man Winter is a bastard that can't do the work on his own.
We follow the snow ponies in their indiscriminate journey spreading winter about the forest and fields, passing a deer, a grey squirrel and a European robin, yada yada.
The text is almost like a short prose poem. The artwork by Jason Cockcroft is the real star of the show.
Because of climate change, winters portrayed like this will soon only be found in books.
But the most important question left unanswered is --
What breed are the snow ponies?
Looking at the cover, I thought they were Welsh Mountain ponies or crosses with Shetlands. Further on, I realized the illustrator probably took photos of Camargue horses (as short as ponies) for models. There is one picture of two ponies play fighting that resemble Camargues quite strongly. Then, later on, some ponies suddenly sport Appaloosa spots. With their shaggy manes and tails, this would make the snow ponies ...
(Drumroll please)
... The British Spotted Pony.
(Insert your favorite joke about Brits here.)
We follow the snow ponies in their indiscriminate journey spreading winter about the forest and fields, passing a deer, a grey squirrel and a European robin, yada yada.
The text is almost like a short prose poem. The artwork by Jason Cockcroft is the real star of the show.
Because of climate change, winters portrayed like this will soon only be found in books.
But the most important question left unanswered is --
What breed are the snow ponies?
Looking at the cover, I thought they were Welsh Mountain ponies or crosses with Shetlands. Further on, I realized the illustrator probably took photos of Camargue horses (as short as ponies) for models. There is one picture of two ponies play fighting that resemble Camargues quite strongly. Then, later on, some ponies suddenly sport Appaloosa spots. With their shaggy manes and tails, this would make the snow ponies ...
(Drumroll please)
... The British Spotted Pony.
(Insert your favorite joke about Brits here.)
January 9, 2020
Old Man Winter lets his herd of Snow Ponies out for a romp and everything turns white. A fun myth about snowfall.
December 30, 2021
Love the illustrative style! Learning about horses and animals of the woods. Great mentor text for visualization and word choice. A happy, successful adventure!
February 1, 2023
I like the idea of winter coming as racing white ponies. I wouldn’t mind seeing an updated version with more accurate horse drawings and a less scary old man winter
January 24, 2013
Magical ponies create the first snowfall of winter On a cold, gray day, Old Man Winter leads his snow ponies outside. "Are you ready?" he asks. Yes! Faster and faster the ponies gallop. Everything they touch turns white with snow as they bring winter to the forest and field. At last the ponies tire, and Old Man Winter settles them down for the night in their cozy barn. Outside, the world is covered with a soft white blanket. Winter has come at last. Simple, poetic text and evocative illustrations capture the magic of winter's first snowfall.
This book would work for pre-school storytime if the children attended regularly. It might be a little long and slow paced for those who are new to storytime.
Lovely book. The tone and general feeling of the book remindes me of Grandfather Twilight by Barbara Berger.
Subjects
Winter -- Juvenile fiction.
Snow -- Juvenile fiction
Ponies -- Juvenile fiction
This book would work for pre-school storytime if the children attended regularly. It might be a little long and slow paced for those who are new to storytime.
Lovely book. The tone and general feeling of the book remindes me of Grandfather Twilight by Barbara Berger.
Subjects
Winter -- Juvenile fiction.
Snow -- Juvenile fiction
Ponies -- Juvenile fiction
January 10, 2013
What? You thought Jack Frost brought winter? Well, you're wrong. It's the Snow Ponies who bring winter!
Every year, at just the right time, Old Man Winter opens the stalls and releases the snow ponies, who gallop and frolick and whinny and whicker and turn everything they touch winter-white. Then, when all is a blanket of snow, they return home to Old Man Winter's barn.
Kids who love horses will enjoy this one. The paintings are both lively and lovely, and the snow-white ponies are beautiful. (3-and-a-half stars for the story, and the illustrations boost it up to 4.) This would be a fun addition to a unit on winter.
Every year, at just the right time, Old Man Winter opens the stalls and releases the snow ponies, who gallop and frolick and whinny and whicker and turn everything they touch winter-white. Then, when all is a blanket of snow, they return home to Old Man Winter's barn.
Kids who love horses will enjoy this one. The paintings are both lively and lovely, and the snow-white ponies are beautiful. (3-and-a-half stars for the story, and the illustrations boost it up to 4.) This would be a fun addition to a unit on winter.
September 14, 2008
I, personally, didn't LOVE this book, but it has definitely been the hit of the 16 books we checked out 5 Sept. (we go to the library every Friday, but it was closed on the 12th so these books will have to do for two whole weeks.) I think we've read it EVERY NIGHT with one exception. One of the girls always picks it for their read. The theme is a nice idea, but the writing isn't um.. exceptional. It's pretty good, I guess.
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June 11, 2011This story reminds me of a long poem. The text will expose children to several new words: romp, stall, jostling, prancing, canter, whinnies, whickers, frolic, nip, buck, and the homonym pen. “Snow Ponies” would be a great beginning for an activity on how to use a dictionary.
September 4, 2015
Old Man Winter sets his snow ponies free to gallop through the land. The joyous ponies prance and play, leaving snowy white flurries in their wake. Filled with lovely, lyrical descriptions of winter, this story sparkles like snowflakes.
November 6, 2011
Ok story about where snow comes from: Old Man Winter lets out his snow ponies, who race and play. The book is a bit unclear about how the ponies actually make it snow. Nice illustrations.
February 3, 2015
4 Stars for Really Nice Pictures! I liked the story at around 3.5 stars ...but it did like it!
Let it snow!!
Let it snow!!
February 9, 2015
Loved the illustrations.
December 14, 2016
Read in Snow themed preschool storytime 12/14/2016
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews