The Good Luck Pony [With Gold Lucky Pony Charm on a Chain]

``Once there was a little girl who loved horses,'' begins this reassuring tale by the author of The Magic Locket and The Silver Slippers . Similar to those popular books, The Good Luck Pony features a novelty item--here, a golden chain with a charm in the shape of a pony. When the story's heroine dreams of ``riding as fast as the wind,'' her wish is unexpectedly granted when her frisky mount nearly runs away with her. Badly shaken, the frightened youngster is ready to abandon her riding lessons, but her mother gives her a horse charm to renew her daughter's confidence. ``But you must act on your dream to make it lucky,'' she encourages. Koda-Callan's simple story can, by extension, be used as an object lesson to help children confront their fears, persevere in troublesome circumstances and have confidence in their own abilities. The equestrian lore should prove intriguing, and the softly-hued colored-pencil art illustrates various astride positions and exercises. Ages 4-8. (Nov.)