A Winning Gift by Catherine Hapka - OPTIONAL

Hapka, Catherine   A Winning Gift  (Marguerite Henry's Ponies of Chincoteague, book 5) 182 pages. Aladdin, 2015. $6.99 (paperback). Language: G ; Mature Content: G ; Violence: G

Madrid loves riding Cloudy and does so as often as she can. She is even going to have her upcoming twelfth birthday party at the stables. But when she takes her sister's expensive nail polish, without asking, to paint Cloudy's hooves, she knows she is only one infraction away from having her party cancelled. So when she sees a letter in her parents' office that seems to indicate that their family is moving, one she only saw because she was snooping where she didn't belong, she knows she can't say anything, at least until after her party, even though it is causing her considerable distress.

     This is book 5 in a series, but the story also works well alone. It will definitely appeal to girls who love horses, and honestly, that was all I was expecting. However, it is more than just that. It is also a good example of well-written realistic fiction for this age group that convincingly and compellingly writes about friendship and family. I would definitely add it to my collection if I needed more horse stories, though the appeal may be limited to female horse fans.

EL (4-6) - OPTIONAL. Reviewed by P.K.Foster, teacher- librarian