The Pony and the Starling

A girl and her mother watch an unusual friendship develop between a solitary starling and a lonely pony.

The gray pony lives in the green pasture beside the barn. One day, the girl and her mother see a flock of starlings wheel over the field. When the flock moves on, one bird remains behind — perched on the fence, near the pony.

As summer moves into autumn, the girl watches as the pony and the starling become constant companions, sharing grain, water and shade. When the days get colder, the girl begins to wonder — what will happen when winter arrives? A blizzard blows in … and the starling vanishes. Is this the end of a special friendship? And what will the spring bring?

The Pony and the Starling is a gentle story of changing seasons and an unlikely but enduring friendship.

Key Text Features

illustrations

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3

Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.

JENNIFER MCGRATH is an award-winning author whose books include Pugs Cause Traffic Jams, illustrated by Kathryn Durst; The Snow Knows, illustrated by Josée Bisaillon, winner of the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award; and the middle grade book Chocolate River Rescue, winner of the Hackmatack Award. She lives in Hillsborough, New Brunswick, with her partner, two dogs and pony.

Kristina Jones is an accomplished illustrator known for her whimsical creative style and passion for the wonder and magic of nature. With a Bachelor of Arts in illustration and design from the University of Hertfordshire, she brings a wealth of knowledge and artistic expertise to her work. Her debut picture book, The Amazing African Animal Alphabet, earned her a nomination for the respected IBBY SA Picture Book Illustrator Award in 2019. Kristina resides in Creston, British Columbia.