In Amelia and the Magic Ponies, Los Caballitos has come to town! Amelia gets in line to ride the carousel, but when a thunderstorm blows in, the wooden ponies are hurriedly stashed in an old barn―and forgotten. The following year, Amelia goes in search of the enchanting little merry-go-round. Can she convince her grandfather to restore the damaged horses?

This book, written for 4-8 years old, parallels the story of Tio Vivo, an antique carousel that was found abandoned in Peñasco, New Mexico. In 1937, the Lions Club of Taos lovingly restored the carousel, then called Los Caballitos or Little Ponies. Artists then painted the ponies in bright, colorful designs. Renamed Tio Vivo, this charming carousel continues to take children on magical rides during Fiestas de Santiago y Santa Ana in Taos, New Mexico.

Amelia and the Magic Ponies is available at Amazon.com

• 1st Place – 2023 NM Press Women’s Book Award, Children’s Category
• 1st Place – NM Historical Society Pablita Valarde Award (2023)
• Finalist – 2023 New Mexico/Arizona Books Awards, Young Readers and Childen’s Picture Books Categories
• Finalist – 2023 Women Writing the West-The WILLA Award