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Noni the Pony

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Noni the Pony
by Alison Lester
Beach Lane Books, 2012.  Unpaged.  Picture Book

     Noni the Pony is a perfect read-aloud for beginning listeners.  The text rhymes and is filled with sounds--long o's and i's, long and short e's, alliterations, and a discernible rhythm that will fill pre-schoolers with knowing about language that they won't know they are getting but that will stand them in good stead their whole lives.  Besides, Noni is a crackerjack of a pony.  Her best friends are Dave Dog and Coco the Cat, whom she cheers up when they are down.  Noni is a prancing pony and gives the next field cows a nice show as she bounces around the pasture.  Sometimes Noni gets scared at night just like a child might--when the wind blows and she hears unfamiliar sounds.  Then she and Dave and Coco snuggle together for a goodnight song and all is well with the world.  I think kids will go wacko for Noni, so be prepared to read it over and over and over and over and over, etc.
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