Penny the Horse...Of Course! - Tatiana Christie - ★★★★.¼

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AUTHOR: Tatiana Christie
ILLUSTRATOR: Alexandra Rusu
GENRE: Children's Picture Book.
PUBLICATION DATE: April 7, 2022
RATING: 4.25 stars.

A really sweet story about a little pig who tries too hard to fit in.

Penny is the only pig on a farm full of horses. As she is lonely, she decides to “change” into a horse so that the actual horses would include her as their friend. Her attempts result in dismay. But the horses make her realise that she is a perfectly fine pig, and they decide to adapt their activities so that Penny feels more included.

This is a great story from the points of view of both Penny and the horses. Penny’s arc teaches kids how they just need to be themselves and they don’t need to bend over backward and change their personalities in order to make others like them The horses’ behaviour shows how we must be inclusive of everyone and not stick to our kind. Adaptations and adjustments are necessary in friendship and one mustn’t look at this as a sacrifice. The book delivers all these ideas very effectively.

The language of the story is simply and easy to understand. There are many funny scenes and kids are sure to laugh as loudly as the horses on seeing Penny’s attempts at a makeover.

The illustrations are pretty cute too. They are in a kind of watercolour effect so they appear very fluid and natural. They suit the story perfectly.

This would be a fabulous book for home as well as school. It entertains, and it educates!

My thanks to DartFrog Books and NetGalley for the ARC of “Penny the Horse...Of Course!” This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

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