Jigsaw Pony

December 1, 2005
Gr 2-4 -An old pony that has had multiple owners finds a loving home with twins Fran and Kiera. The girls, who never agree on anything, have separate plans for Jigsaw. Fran dreams of barrel racing and Kiera of show jumping. However, they discover that Jigsaw stops after a few jumps and after running fast. When they realize that he is very old, they both agree -for maybe the first time -that Jigsaw is their friend and that they prefer to keep him instead of getting a younger pony. He is special, and can do amazing things ranging from quieting a neighbor's baby to attending show-and-tell at school to demonstrating his dunking-for-apples talent at a Halloween party. This is a clever and compassionate story with believable human characters and an appealing animal that is both good-natured and adaptable. The black-and-white illustrations convey the same warmth as the text and underscore Jigsaw's gentle temperament and irresistible appearance. Haas once again delivers with a well-written horse tale that will captivate readers." -Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA"

Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2005
Gr. 2-4. With the children in the house now older and on to other things, Jigsaw the pony is lonely. Then the mailman offers to take the pony for his twin daughters. The girls, Fran and Kiera, are thrilled, but their usual bickering and disagreeing soon has them fighting for Jigsaw's attention. Jigsaw's name provides a perfect example of the children's differences: one twin claims Jigsaw is white with black blotches; the other insists the opposite. Sharing the pony with friends helps the girls reconcile. Known for her engaging middle-grade animal stories, Haas aims this one toward a younger than usual audience. The wispy black-and-white drawings don't add much, and there's little depth of character. But this is still a very pleasing tale, told from the pony's point of view, with large, easy-to-read type and a spacious layout that make it ideal for readers new to chapter books.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)