Chincoteague Pony Penning

July 29 and 30, the Chincoteague Pony Penning takes place on Chincoteague Island, VA to round up the 150 wild ponies living on Assateague Island and swim them across the inlest to Chincoteague, where about 80-90 of them are sold. This takes place annually, the last Wednesday and Thursday of July. For more information, visit: www.chincoteague.com
-The Teacher's Calendar, 2008-2009

Jeffers, Susan.
My Chincoteague Pony.
2008.
Hyperion Books for Children.

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

On the farm where Julie lives there are cows and chickens, but no ponies. With her whole heart, Julie longs for a pony of her own. And she has a plan. Every summer on Chincoteague Island, there is an auction of ponies who have swum across the channel from Assateague, where ponies run free. If Julie works hard and saves her money all year, perhaps she can win the pony of her dreams--her very own Chincoteague pony.

Oh, I loved this story! I really wasn't at all familiar with the Chincoteague Pony Penning... but wow, this book tells not only that story, but also several true stories about a little girl wanting a pony of her own! Add to the true stories that the little girl learns the importance of giving back and helping other children's dreams come true and this is definitely, definitely worth sharing...

Arnosky, Jim.
Wild Ponies.
2002.
National Geographic Children's Books.
Guided Reading Level: K

Summary from Amazon:

Children join the noted naturalist-artist as he spends a day watching a splendid herd of wild ponies on Assateague Island off the mid-Atlantic coast. Youngsters see the ponies romping in the surf, heading for the dunes where they munch on sea grasses, and wading through the mudflats of the nearby bay. A young foal rests with its mother in the shade of a tree, then starts to play hide-and-seek with a baby deer. Jim Arnosky’s beautifully detailed paintings and lyrical text convey his love for these creatures and his sense of wonder at observing their free spirit up close.

This is an incredible depiction of the wild ponies of Assateague Island... or what I envision the ponies as! Arnosky left a note for readers at the back of the book and among the words he left,

I hope it makes you love the island and want to go there someday to see it all for yourself.

Well, the book definitely did that for me... I'm totally adding this location to my list of places to visit someday! I think kids will soak up the information provided about the ponies of Assateague... enough so that they'll be begging to read more related literature, many of which are listed below!

Other Related Literature:

• How to Convince Your Parents You Can Care For a Wild Chincoteague Pony
• Assateague: Island of Wild Ponies
• Wild Horses of the Dunes
• Out of the Sea: Today's Chincoteague Pony
• Misty of Chincoteague
• Stormy, Misty's Foal
• Seastar, Orphan of Chincoteague
• Misty's Twilight
• Once a Pony Time at Chincoteague

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com.