Jigsaw Pony [Library Binding]

Jessie Haas (Author), Ying-Hwa Hu (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

The only thing twins Fran and Kiera have ever agreed on is thatit would be wonderful to own a pony -- a pony they could gallop and leap over jumps.

One day their father brings them Jigsaw, a Shetland pony who needs a new family. Jigsaw is the perfect pony. He can do anything -- even fit himself into Dad's station wagon for the ride home.

But with Jigsaw comes trouble. The more Fran and Kiera like something, the harder it is for them to share. And they love Jigsaw. Worse, Jigsaw won't gallop far and he won't leap more than a couple of jumps. Is something wrong with the way the twins ride? Or is something wrong with Jigsaw?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4–An old pony that has had multiple owners finds a loving home with twins Fran and Kiera. The girls, who never agree on anything, have separate plans for Jigsaw. Fran dreams of barrel racing and Kiera of show jumping. However, they discover that Jigsaw stops after a few jumps and after running fast. When they realize that he is very old, they both agree–for maybe the first time–that Jigsaw is their friend and that they prefer to keep him instead of getting a younger pony. He is special, and can do amazing things ranging from quieting a neighbor's baby to attending show-and-tell at school to demonstrating his dunking-for-apples talent at a Halloween party. This is a clever and compassionate story with believable human characters and an appealing animal that is both good-natured and adaptable. The black-and-white illustrations convey the same warmth as the text and underscore Jigsaw's gentle temperament and irresistible appearance. Haas once again delivers with a well-written horse tale that will captivate readers.–Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 2-4. With the children in the house now older and on to other things, Jigsaw the pony is lonely. Then the mailman offers to take the pony for his twin daughters. The girls, Fran and Kiera, are thrilled, but their usual bickering and disagreeing soon has them fighting for Jigsaw's attention. Jigsaw's name provides a perfect example of the children's differences: one twin claims Jigsaw is white with black blotches; the other insists the opposite. Sharing the pony with friends helps the girls reconcile. Known for her engaging middle-grade animal stories, Haas aims this one toward a younger than usual audience. The wispy black-and-white drawings don't add much, and there's little depth of character. But this is still a very pleasing tale, told from the pony's point of view, with large, easy-to-read type and a spacious layout that make it ideal for readers new to chapter books. Julie Cummins
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Library Binding: 128 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books (August 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060782501
• ISBN-13: 978-0060782504
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,820,938 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid easy reader for girls who like twins or ponies, April 26, 2006

By 

Sarah Stumpf (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jigsaw Pony (Library Binding)

Jigsaw Pony by Jessie Haas is an engaging early chapter book about sharing and responsibility, centering on identical twins Fran and Kiera and their new pony Jigsaw. This book is more then just a moralistic tale however, as that Jigsaw is himself a fully drawn out character with his own narrative voice, not just a cute an object for two bratty girls to bicker over. The inclusion of his voice makes the story a full-fledged tale about love and makes Jigsaw a person in it. As the twins bicker over everything relating to Jigsaws name, care, exercise and treatment, the reader learns just how much time, money, and work goes in to taking care of a pony. The family has to buy materials to erect fences, set up a shed into a holding pen, and worry about daily feeding and grooming. Daily subtleties of horse care are related in detail to give the reader a sense of the intense responsibility of owning a pony. And all this work must be negotiated between two obnoxious twins who stubbornly refuse to share anything related to his care, and their likeable friend Jody, who often serves as a buffer zone and neutral party between them when agreements cannot be reached.

Meanwhile the central problem in the book, noticed by both twins in their time, concerns why Jigsaw will not gallop fast and easily tires. When the veterinarian tells the family that Jigsaw is too old for the fast paced races, shows, and jumps that the girls had their hearts set on, they rally to his side even though they are disappointed. They wouldn't dream of getting rid of him because he is old; he is a person to them and a member of the family. The girls learn to live with this disappointment because their love for Jigsaw wins out. It even overcomes their tendency to compete and bicker, as both girls stand firm and united in their desire to keep their beloved (but old) pony. In fact, it is only when they are threatened with loosing Jigsaw that they show any indication that they might be willing and able to share him.

On hte downside, Jigsaw Pony is very genericized, taking place at some unknown but familiar rural location. Only white culture is represented and the characters of the children are very simple and moralistic (even when the twins are behaving badly) and everyone learns a good lesson about sharing at the end. While these characters interact with others, there is no real sense of community. Even though they attend a Halloween Party at the end with other townsfolk, there is nothing unique about this party and no larger themes are drawn. If you're looking for a specific story about specific people, places, or things, you might be disapointed. If you're looking for a cute story about a pony, you'll probably be satisfied.

5.0 out of 5 stars A FANTASTIC Book, January 30, 2011

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Jigsaw Pony (Hardcover)

Wonderful! The kind of book you'd read over and over! I read it in KINDERGARTEN! I challenge you (if your a kid!) or your child (if your an adult) to read it to! Wonderful book for early readers who are ready for chapter books!