A Pony Named Princess - Joan Chard M.

Princess is a high-spirited pony who befriends a young boy confined to a wheelchair but who has his own way of expressing his enchantment with horses, which he can no longer ride. Through their adventures on a guest-ranch in British Columbia Princess adds another dimension to her mischievous personality and Phillip learns that he is defined not by his disability but rather by his openness to new experiences and realization of his own and others' innate worth.

Imbued with fantasy and humour, the story is essentially a portrayal of an animal-human bonding energized by unique problem solving and resulting in mutual transformation. It will appeal to children with special needs as well as to those who love animals and are interested in the visual arts. For the wider readership it encourages empathy through awareness of physical and emotional hurdles faced by marginalized members of society.