*For Welsh review, see language toggle switch on top of webpage*
(suggested) reading age: 6+
(suggested) interest age: 3-7
Messages: taking part that counts, bravery, perseverance, self-belief,
♥Children's Book of the Month July 2022♥
Our opinion
It's good to see a variety of books coming to market, and this one will surely appeal to the readers who love animals, farming, the countryside and of course horses. We are fortunate in our area to have plenty of agricultural shows to enjoy - Llanrwst Show, Eglwysbach Show, Cerrigydrudion Show to name but a few! Reading this book made me think back to those lovely summer days watching the animals and their owners performing.
Shetland pony Ladi is desperately worried about her first show. Let’s face it, we all know that anxious feeling of butterflies in our tummies before we do something new, and it turns out horses are no exception! To make matters worse, after an unfortunate experience with one of the fellow contestants, Ladi is ready to give up and run for home.
However, despite the nerves and her initial worries, Ladi (and Cit, her rider) persevere and find some determination. In fact, they have a great time in the end. If you want to know how they got on... you’ll have to read to find out!
This is an original story, published bilingually. I'm happy to see a steady supply of books such as this, because they’re very popular with parents who are keen to support their children's Welsh reading. Technically, you get double the book for the same price!
A lovely story that shows how important it is to be brave and to persevere. And yes, whilst it is a somewhat cliché message, it’s a good one – it’s taking part that counts, not winning!
Don't just take our word for it, have a look at what Gwales has to say:
GWALES REVIEW
This is a lovely original picturebook by author Llanwedd Lawlor and artist Jessica Wise that gives you a little bit of everything – an engaging story, colourful pictures and bilingual text to boot. Something for everyone, then!
As with all story-and-picture books, having an attractive cover is essential, and the playful cover of this book is sure to attract the eye, with Ladi the show horse's eyes fixed on you from the start. The story presents Ladi's point of view going into the show – her excitement, but also her anxiety and insecurities upon arriving at the showground and seeing so many people and creatures there.
And if you thought things were bad in the singing world, the same can also be said for the horse world, and the appearance of the majestic ‘celebrity’ horse, Concyr, frightens poor Ladi. Luckily, the judge has the final say, and without revealing too much, Ladi and Cit make a very good show of it. There's a small moral message woven into the story, of course, but it’s subtle enough.
The layout of the text in the book is creative, with some experimentation with fonts in terms of colour, type and size. By now, readers in Wales are quite familiar with bilingual books, with the English text appearing in a smaller font on the same page as the Welsh version. You don't have to notice the English version at all if you don't want to, but it can work as an extremely useful tool for non-Welsh parents and learners, as needed. I probably would have preferred to see the English font in italics, to show an even greater difference between it and the Welsh text.
Naturally, attracting the eye’s attention is what the pictures in a storybook are all about, and the use of striking and contrasting colours on different pages certainly promotes interest. Jessica Wise's photos are neat and clean and add the expected amount of interest.
A good little original book to read, although the sale price might be a bit much for some little piggy banks!
A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Books Council of Wales.