Lady's Big Surprise

It's Official: Girls Love Horses
Lady's Big Surprise, the start of a new series for horse lovers, weaves adventure with lessons on life and friendship.

We all know one. A young girl who is wildly, inexplicably, head-over-heels horse crazy. JoAnn S. Dawson has captured that innate love of horses and brought it to life in Lady's Big Surprise, a beautifully written and illustrated tale in the tradition of Frances Frost's classic Windy Foot series and Marguerite Henry's books. With plenty of excitement and mystery to enthrall readers ages 8-12, the story is compelling from the first sentence and leaves readers eagerly anticipating sequels.

Venturing from the little white barn they call Lucky Foot Stable and aided by Willie, the wise farmhand, "epic" friends Mary and Jody embark upon a series of adventures with their ponies, Gypsy and Lady, and grow a lasting friendship as they share hour after hour of imaginative exploits. From their very first horse show to their journey to the mysterious Secret Place, the Cow Funeral and an old fashioned sleigh ride, these two plucky heroines learn important life lessons which culminate in a magical night at the stable and the biggest surprise of their lives!

Dawson draws on her own extensive experience with horses to lend authenticity and detail to the events as they unfold. She also includes a glossary of horse terms for the reader's reference.

Lady's Big Surprise will keep readers glued to the page right up to the very satisfying end which begs for a sequel. That wish is granted in the next of the series... keep an eye open for Star of Wonder.

Lady's Big Surprise * JoAnn S. Dawson * F.T. Richards Publishing * August 2004 * ISBN 0-974651-5-1 Hardcover $15.95, 0-974651-6-X Soft cover $8.95 * Illustrated by Michelle Keenan * 270 pp * Ages 8-12 * Glossary of horse terms * Distributed to the trade by Biblio, an NBN sister company (800-462-6420)