Families who loved The Blind Pony by Jeanne Betancourt often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is grappling with a sudden change, a new physical limitation, or the fear that a friend is no longer the same after a hardship. It is a gentle yet realistic guide for navigating the frustration and grief that come when life does not go as planned. The story follows Anna and her pony, Acorn, as they face the devastating news that Acorn is going blind. As Anna learns to communicate with her horse in new ways, she models how to adapt to disability with patience and grit. At its heart, this is a story about loyalty and the beauty of a bond that transcends physical perfection. It is ideal for independent readers aged 7 to 10 or as a shared read-aloud for children processing their own health challenges or those of a loved one.