The Painted Ponies

LONG-LISTED: 2020 ABIA's, Children's Picture Book of the Year
LONG-LISTED: 2020 Indie Book Awards, Indie Book of the Year Children's category
SHORT-LISTED: 2020 Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards, Five to Eight Years category

Matilda loves staying at Grandma Lucky's, riding Luna in the front paddock and playing with the painted ponies in their carved wooden wagon.

The gold palomino, the chestnut, the bay,
the pinto, the brown and the dappley grey.

One day, Lucky tells Matilda about when she was a little girl and the real ponies were her friends... A big, beautiful story about friendship and freedom, from Australia's favourite picture book creator, Alison Lester.

Alison Lester's books are favourites with children and adults all around the world, with over 3 million copies sold in Australia, where she was the first Australian Children's Laureate. Her books Magic Beach, Imagine, My Farm, Are We There Yet? and Kissed by the Moon are Australian classics.

Readers love The Painted Ponies for its:
- heartfelt story that explores animal bonds
- vintage feel and nostalgic setting
- rhythmic, galloping prose
- vibrant and evocative illustrations.