Barrington Author-Illustrator to Sign New 'My Little Pony' Book

Mary Jane Begin, an award-winning author-illustrator from Barrington, launches her newest book, My Little Pony: Under The Sparkling Sea, at Barrington Books on Saturday afternoon.

The book is a brand new My Little Pony underwater adventure published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Begin will sign books and paint faces from 1-4 pm.

The event also include My Little Pony prizes and giveaways throughout the afternoon (while supplies last), according to Anika Denise of Barrington Books.

About the book:

When Twilight Sparkle receives an invitation to visit the underwater city of Aquastria, she invites all her pony friends and Spike to travel with her. The ponies are welcomed by the ruler of Aquastria, King Leo, who sits on the Cosmic Council alongside his cousin, Princess Celestia. There is a long-held rivalry between the seaponies and the mermares. The two groups compete each year in a race for the grand prize, which is a beautiful pearl. Join the core cast and Spike as they confront danger, make new friends and race to the finish in this shimmering new world!

After having been approached by Hasbro to create a new original My Little Pony picture book, the idea to set the story “under the sparkling sea” came to Begin while on a camping trip.

“I was napping in a tent a few feet from the lake’s edge — and the water sound and the ponies merged,” said Begin. “I woke up, jotted down the story in my head on a wrinkled piece of paper and knew it would be a wonderful adventure.”

The artwork for the book was created using watercolor, pastel, colored pencil and acrylic gloss medium on colored pastel paper.

“I wanted the colors to pop and shimmer like a jellyfish in the sea,” said Begin. “Iridescent, sparkling and jewel like.”

Learn more about the book at the official publisher page. See Begin creating the book in her Barrington studio in the video above.