ROSA AND THE WATER PONY
From the Mermaid Mysteries series, volume 1
by Katy Kit & illustrated by Tom Knight
A new chapter-book series introduces a set of mermaid friends.
Rosa, a young mermaid, lives in Mermaid Bay with her three best friends. The annual Midsummer Carnival is coming up and the girls can’t wait to enter. The best performance wins a gleaming pearl necklace! With the help of a sparkling water pony (a magically transformed seahorse, of course), fluttering golden ribbons and a routine filled with dazzling finflips and tailspins, the girls are certain their team will win. But mean twin sisters Muriel and Myrtle make fun of their routine. And when Rosa’s cousin Coral visits unexpectedly, her triple sideflip and graceful pirouettes blow Rosa’s best moves out of the water. To make matters worse, their water pony is stolen on the day of the show! How will they ever win the necklace now? Familiar themes of friendships, jealousy and bullying abound in this undersea world—with a generous sprinkling of sea jewels and stardust on every page. The pony is named Sparkle, natch.
An alternative for those fairy-loving transitioning readers who are looking for a new magical adventure. (Fantasy. 6-8)