HARRY'S PONY
by Barbara Ann Porte & illustrated by Yossi Abolafia
Harry (Harry's Birthday, 1994, etc.) is back, this time in a tender tale about what to do with a pony he's won by writing an essay. He is elated, of course, but his father urges him to accept the alternate prize—a bicycle. The problems of keeping a horse give Harry plenty to consider, but he is persistent, and with his friends, Dorcas and Eddie, comes up with creative potential solutions to zoning regulations, upkeep, and practical considerations. Just when he's about to give up and settle on the bicycle, Harry visits Aunt Rose and her jazz band. Wild Mamie, the wheelchair-bound clarinetist, has a solution: Harry contributes the pony to a farm where children with disabilities learn to ride. In plain words, this is an adorable book about generosity and compromise. Porte's understated narrative touches the heart, while Abolafia's expressive illustrations add to all the fun. (Fiction. 5-8)