I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review.

This is a somewhat sad story about a show pony who is owned by several different children, being sold to a new owner as each child outgrows her. At first, she doesn't understand what's going on, but then she figures out what is happening and why. It makes her quite sad until she is purchased by a family with three young kids who become her forever owners giving her a forever home.

This story made me feel a bit sad, so I'm not sure I'd want to read it too often, although it does have that very happy ending, so it's got a good message that sometimes when things seem to be going wrong, it's leading to something even better for you. The illustrations were wispy but evocative. Overall I give Posey's Problem 3.975 out of 5 stars.

While the message here was a bit mature for the littles, the story was well written and the pictures were beautiful.

Posey’s Problem by Kathy Simmons is a beautifully written and illustrated book about a pony named Posey who has numerous owners during her pony life because when her young owners get too big to ride her, she gets a new one. I thought Posey’s Problem was a really wonderful book and would be perfect for any type of story time. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book. My review is also on Goodreads.

I've always loved stories about equines and this one too is heartwarming and really sweet.
Lovely story about the life of a horse and its relationship with the different kids she has grown with.
Well suited for kids over 4

Poseys Problem : A Pony Tale by Kathy Simmers

Thank you to Netgalley for my review copy of this children's book.

I found this one to be a heartwarming story with lovely illustrations. It was enjoyable to read.

This is a children’s story about a pony who’s rider keeps outgrowing her and so she continually gets rehomed to a new rider again and again as the problem persists.

It teaches children about how we go through cycles of change in life and how we can overcome the anxieties that brings.

Making a virtue out of being repetitive, this shows us a champion pony, who is shocked one day to find her human charge outgrowing her – and therefore ends up at a new stable with a new owner, and a new rider to make a champion team with. And then that girl gets too tall, and so on and so on. It looks like the (seemingly immortal) pony is forever going to be passed from pillar to post, such is her lot – but surely something will come along and break the pattern?

This will be welcome for a horse-loving young reader, showing the love the equine has for the human and vice versa, through the pony's eyes. It teaches us that change, even if not at all our fault, can still affect us without being a problem. Nicely told, and well-illustrated, it stood out for me with what (to someone who rarely reads horse books) came across as a different and unexpected approach.

This is a very sweet book and one that I highly recommend for young riders who love their ponies. It would make a perfect gift for them.

Posey is a pony. She loves her rider and is dismayed when her little girl outgrows her. This story, told from Posey’s point of view, watches as Posey teaches new kids but misses her old ones. Young children will I think be sensitive to how Posey feels. They will also love the ending of the story.

The illustrations in this book are really special. Study the details. The illustrator knows horses and her gentle illustrations perfectly enhance the text.

Again, this would make a terrific gift for a horsey child. I loved it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bound to Happen Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Posey is lesson pony who loves all of the kids who ride her. She comes to discover that she bonds well with each kid, but as the kids grow bigger they outgrow Posey. Each time a kid moves up to a bigger horse, Posey feels lost and lonely. Eventually she is bought by a family with three girls and helps them all learn to ride. When the youngest gets to big for Posey, they tell her that they will keep her at the farm forever. One day, at an event, all of the kids who learned to ride on Posey gathered around to reminisce. Posey realizes that she isn't loosing a piece of her heart each time, but instead swapping it with the child, thereby helping everyone's love grow.

This story is sweet, but not very interesting or exciting. The illustrations are fine, but a little cartoonish and not engaging. It has an old fashioned lilt to it, with all of the riders except one being girls and most of the characters appearing light skinned. I think little girls who love ponies will enjoy this book immensely, but others might find it bland.

had so much fun reading this book, the story is so adorable and the illustrations were so well done and charming, there’s so many little details in every page that I couldn’t stop but be mesmerized by it all. I will definitely be recommending it! Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this early copy

"Posey's Problem" by Kathy Simmers is a touching story about Posey, a champion pony who loves taking kids to horse shows. However, she faces a big problem - her young riders keep getting taller, and it makes her sad. As Posey navigates these changes, she learns a valuable lesson about love, something we can all relate to. The book's beautiful illustrations make Posey's emotional journey come alive, and it's a heartfelt tribute to the special ponies who become both friends and teachers to their young riders. They give their all, just like Posey, with all their heart, reminding us of the power of love and the bonds between animals and their young friends.

Like any horse crazy kid who's ever been lucky enough to have a horse, this one felt personal. Aspirations or simple physical growth mean riders often outgrew a current mount, This one takes a look at the separation from the horse's point of view, however. As such, it's a reminder to those aspiring to horse ownership that change happens. The illustrations show riders using English saddles, for instance, but you may aspire to more into western style. Or you may simply physically outgrow your horse. Your dream horse of today may not be appropriate for future goals. Posey seems to have had the toughness, the resilience to adapt to the changes in her life, always doing her best for the next and, sigh, next riders. She was a champion and her humans surely became better for knowing and learning from Posey.

The illustrations are lovely and capture reality well. I especially liked that while it had to be hard to tear themself from drawing the beautiful horses, the author and illustrator also showed some of the hard work involved that doesn't involve being astride. The barn scene immediately stuck with me. It was also great to see a happy ending for Posey, not only briefly reunited with her prior owners but in a forever home where she was as loved as she loved. The cover captures that bond well.

If you like horses, you will enjoy this one. It illustrates the bond between human and horse. It also shows the true loyalty of a good horse, one determined to do its best no matter what the situation. If you have a horse crazy kid, this would make a lovely gift. Thank you #NetGalley and #BoundToHappenPublishing - #IBPA for bringing a wistful smile to the place in my heart horses still hold.

Posey loved Julie and Julie loved Posey but now she's outgrown her and with a sad heart, Posey is passed on to Emily a new kid rider and teaches her everything she knows.

Her life continues the same, going from one child to the next, until a kind family takes her in and loves her forever. (CUE IN THE RIVER OF TEARS!)

The illustrations were absolutely gorgeous within this whole book, seeing Posey and the other beautiful horses drawn so stunningly, seeing the children and as they grew up, the backgrounds, the people, everything within this book was so beautifully drawn.

I truly felt immersed in the book the whole time.

Posey had a huge heart and you could tell she was sad when she had to say goodbye to another child.

Posey's Problem A Pony Tale
by Kathy Simmers
A horse lovers book, great for the elementary school classroom. This book allows little girls and boys to dream of riding their own pony. It also teaches them things change. That adaptation to change is part of life. Even if you can't control the events in your life you can change how you react. You can give your best, and make the best of your situation. That the love you give will return to you even if its not immediate.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this book, in exchange for my honest review.

I love how this was based on a real pony called Posy!

I shedded more than a few tears because this was so beautiful and close to home for me.

This is written by a true and experienced horselover, you can tell.

The illustrations in color are charming and so well done. Such beautiful drawings in color and in combination with a heartwarming story, it made the perfect picture book for anyone who loves horses. It will be extra special for the ones who had/have a pony.

Posy is the best pony, not only a champion but she adapts to the person who is riding her.

Her problem is that kids outgrow her but she never outgrows them. So she moves from home to home and although it’s a little heartbreaking every time for her to leave her owner behind and a challenge to adapt to a new home every time, she keeps doing her best and it never takes long for her to love her new owner.

I love the way this ended for Posy and I just have to say that ponies like her are worth their weight in gold.

I’m getting a few more tissues now and the picture of my pony Etoile. You were the best girl and parting with you was the hardest thing I ever did.

Thank you so much to Bound to Happen Publishing and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Posey loved Julie and Julie loved Posey but now she’s outgrown her, with a sad heart Posey is passed on to Emily a new kid rider and teachers her everything she knows. Her life continues the same going from one child to the next until a kind family take her in and love her forever.

This was beautiful I adored how quickly Posey learnt to love them all, every time she got a new rider she felt a sting in her heart and losing the child she was so attached too but she fell in love with the new children all the same and wanted to encourage and teach them to be winners.

The way this story was told was so beautiful and capturing, you are drawn into the sweetness and the love instantly and makes you feel connected to sweet Posey from the beginning. She had a huge heart filled with so much love, tenderness and care for each and every child she met. But she still struggled each time she got passed on knowing she’d never see her child again.

The illustrations were absolutely gorgeous within this whole book, seeing Posey and the other beautiful horses drawn so stunningly, seeing the children and as they grew up, the backgrounds, the people, everything within this book was so beautifully drawn. I could stare at these illustrations all day they were so beautifully stunning.

If you love horses and ponies then this book is an automatic must read, it’s stunning, so beautiful and shares such a lovely and heartfelt story of a pony that lived a long, full wonderful life with many loving children. It’s so worth the read I adored it completely.

Posey is a show pony. Posey's problem is that her "owners" (children) grow up.

Beautifully written. Wonderfully illustrated. A heart-warming story. This is a book to cherish! As a girl I loved horses. This book is perfect! I just love, love, loved this children's book.

Author's note indicates that Posey is a real champion show pony.

Written by Kathy Simmers; illustrated by Marjorie Van Heerden.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bound to Happen Publishing for the opportunity to review Posey's Problem in exchange for an honest review. Imprint: Independent Book Publishers Association. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for approving my request to review the advance read copy.

'Posey's Problem: A Pony Tale' by Kathy Simmers is a sweet tale told from the pony's perspective. She is sad as her riders out grow her (but does finally find a forever family). It is a great story for horse lovers as well as any kid. As we all have to encounter changes from time to time and Posey exemplifies handling those changes with grace. Very sweet book!

Description:
Posey is a children's show pony whose riders keep outgrowing her and selling her on.

Liked:
The illustrations are not exactly my style, but they do have an undeniable charm. The theme is interesting: a pet which gets passed on when it has outlived its usefulness.

Disliked:
The focus on winning and being a champion as an indicator of being good. Why do the blue ribbons matter so much? Also felt this could have taken a bit more of a position on how horrid it is that this is a practice. Imagine trading in your family dog or cat every few years. That Posey is able to cope with this doesn't really make her a good pony, that we as humans do this to ponies makes us bad humans. I'm glad Posey found a settled home with the author in the end, but I imagine there's a more eloquent point to be made if it weren't for fear of alienating a good portion of her audience. Please be brave!

What a precious and sweet story! My horse loving girls and I loved this book. The illustrations are beautiful and this book will make the perfect gift for all horse loving girls!