Celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month with Jessica Milo!

Hay there, readers, writers, dreamers of all kinds! 🐴💚 May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we're trotting into it the best way we know how - with books, of course! 📚 And what better way to celebrate than with debut author Jessica Milo and her heartwarming new picture book, My Pony Wonder?

My Pony Wonder follows a girl who boot-stomp-runs at the call of her pony's whinny, excited for a day of trail riding. Through lyrical, bouncy verses, readers join the pair as they trot and gallop through the woods, delighting in each new sight, finding comfort in one another during moments of uncertainty, and sharing precious time together.

Want to know more about Jessica and her new book, My Pony Wonder, PLUS want a chance to win either a 30-minute AMA session with her or a signed copy of her book? Read on…

Q: Hi Jessica - thanks for joining SeasonsOfKidLit.com! We’re thrilled to feature you and hear all about you and your DEBUT book with Penguin Random House Studio - A HUGE congrats by the way! Can you share a little bit about the inspiration behind your book and a little about your path to publication? 

A: Thank you so much for having me! My fond childhood memories of riding ponies and horses with my big sister inspired me to write this book! At first, I set out to write a story about my sister and her getting her first horse for her 11th birthday, but I felt like I wasn’t finding that magic that I was looking for. Then, I read Valerie Bolling and Kaylani Juanita’s TOGETHER WE RIDE, and that inspired me to go broader—what if I made this story about a girl and her pony out for a trail ride? I personally loved going on trail rides when I was younger! Reading Valerie and Kaylani’s book also inspired me to write MY PONY WONDER in sparse, bouncy rhyme, and I wanted the rhythm of the story to emulate the clip-clopping of horse hooves.

About my path to publication, when I queried my agent Wendi Gu, I included MY PONY WONDER in the picture book manuscript package I sent her (the manuscript though had a different title back then, TRAIL RIDE TOGETHER), and Wendi loved it! We ultimately went on sub with it in May 2024. We quickly got an offer from my fantastic editor Lee Wade at Random House Studio, and we accepted! Shortly after, we got the talented Ramona Kaulitzki (one of my dream illustrators that I suggested to Lee for the book) and she worked on the art! Now, two years later, MY PONY WONDER is releasing on July 7, 2026 wherever books are sold! I couldn’t be happier with my path to publication and how the book turned out. The collaboration behind this book between me, Wendi, Lee, Ramona, and the rest of the Random House Studio team, was the best part of the journey!

Q: What will readers enjoy most about your book? Why is your book a perfect fit for every season?

A: I think readers will enjoy the sweet bond the main character has with her pony (whose name is really Wonder!). You can see how deep and strong their trust and friendship are throughout the story, and how joyful they are because they are together. Even during a moment of fear and uncertainty, the comfort they find in each other really pops off the page. It showcases how our animals can soothe us and give us so much joy without us speaking the same language. I think that’s what is so precious and special about animals—how we can experience all these emotions and have such a strong bond and friendship with them without conversation in the same language. 

I believe that is why my book is also a great read for any season of the year—friendship and the animal-human bond is evergreen. Loving our animals is beyond a time period, beyond what age we are (if we are children or adults), beyond where we come from or what we struggle with. What’s so special is our animals love us for who we are no matter what, and it’s one of the most incredible loves and bonds we can experience in our lifetime. 

And also, trail rides and riding horses and ponies can happen in every season and in any weather! I think kids love being outdoors anytime of the year. There is so much to see and experience while in nature, and it is so good for our health and wellbeing. And it can be so much fun!!!

Q: Can you share a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what it was like working with your publisher?

A: Working with Random House Studio and my editor Lee Wade was the best. Especially for my first ever experience selling and publishing a book. Lee is so collaborative, responsive, and she really invests into you and the story. She has brilliant ideas, and is so open to what you want and envision as the author. She truly championed my book and throughout the whole process, from offer to finished product, she has been there for me and her passion and excitement for the book is so apparent. I found it so fun to bounce off ideas to make the story stronger! For example, the story originally was a horse, not a pony, but her suggestion of changing it to pony made all the difference—it was more suitable for a young girl to be riding a pony since they are smaller, and that change helped me find the title MY PONY WONDER, which Lee absolutely loved. That title is so perfectly fitting for the book and its vibes!

The entire team at Random House Studio have been incredible and they really make me feel a part of the process. They keep me in the loop with every step and answer any questions I have. Their support has made this experience amazing! I love that they share and like my IG posts about the book, and a few weeks ago, they even mailed me the advanced physical copy of the book! I have the first ever copy and it’s so beautiful!

Q: What holiday/season does your book fit into and what does that holiday mean to you? How did you tie that into your book?

A: Though it’s not officially listed as a theme, I feel like my book has those SEL elements that are relevant and so relatable. Part of the story arc is about the girl experiencing anxiety and fear, and how Wonder helps her ground herself and work through it. Thus, I like to think that my book can go under Mental Health Awareness Month, because of how my book showcases the main character experiencing anxiety, and how she’s able to come down from her fear and panic, and take in the sights and appreciate the beauty in the moment with her pony. 

From a very young age, I struggled with severe childhood anxiety and am thankful that my parents sought help and therapy. I still struggle with anxiety to this day, and realize I’ve had it and may have it my whole life, but having resources and therapy available to me is so helpful, and it’s so important we provide those to everybody—especially children. I tied my own experiences with anxiety into the book and it was important to me to show how, even in anxious moments, you can and will get through it, and having a friend, or in this case, a beloved animal, there for you is proof of how love and friendship are the best things in life.

That is such an important note and Holiday/Season. Thanks so much for sharing this with us!

Q: What’s your favorite spread from the book? Please share why Ramona Kaulitzki nailed it and explain why it’s your favorite.

A: Oooh, it’s so hard to choose just one! I have two favorite spreads (though I love ALL of them!). The first is the spread where the girl and her pony cross the creek—that art is so fun and dynamic! I can pratcically feel and hear the water splashing. The pure joy on the girl’s face, and how Wonder is lovingly looking at her, is so perfect.

My second favorite spread is when the girl and Wonder, and the other riders, are walking through the glowing woods as the sun starts setting. It’s like a zoomed out, landscape shot that is so gorgeous, really showcasing the beauty of the nature around them.

Q: Would you like to leave a tip or a treat for our readers?

A: A TREAT! I’d like to offer a treat to blog readers! I’m offering the choice of a free 30-min AMA or a free signed copy of my book once it’s released.

Woah there! Thanks for such a fantastic treat. And, thanks again for joining us - it was a pleasure getting to know you and your book more. :)

Giveaway Details: Readers, to enter to win Jessica's giveaway, 1) share this post on social media and 2) leave a comment below to thank her for stopping by. Let her know which giveaway you're most intersted in, too.

Giveaway winners will be drawn and announced on or about 05/15!

Books will be shipped in the US only.

About Jessica Milo:

Jessica Milo is a middle school librarian and kidlit author based in Northern California. Her debut picture book, MY PONY WONDER, illustrated by 4x NYT-bestselling illustrator, Ramona Kaulitzki, releases July 7, 2026 from Random House Studio. Jessica has three more picture books slated for release in 2028 and 2029. She is agented by Wendi Gu of HG Literary. To learn more about her, visit her website www.jessicamilo.com and/or follow her on Instagram @jessicamiloauthor.

For more about Jessica, or to purchase her book, check out the below links:

• To preorder MY PONY WONDER: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/784312/my-pony-wonder-by-jessica-milo-illustrated-by-ramona-kaulitzki/

• Jessica’s website: www.jessicamilo.com

• IG: @jessicamiloauthor

---