Are they going to like me? Will they understand me? Do we have the same interests? We don't look anything alike, so how can we be friends?

Elvis the Pony and Topsy Turvy Tivio have many old friends at Magistaad Stables who look like them and sound like them, but Elvis the Pony is out of his comfort zone and uncertain about making a new friend when a strange creature arrives at the horse show!

What happens when Elvis and Tivio meet someone who does not look or sound like them?

Elvis gets nervous when he hears the strange noises coming from the new horse-like animal at the horse show. Tivio assures him that he has nothing to be afraid of, but Elvis must overcome his fear of meeting someone who does not look or sound like him!

Many children feel anxiety and fear when they are in new places and situations and are not sure how to make new friends. Elvis the Pony and Tivio show children how they can overcome those fears by being kind and friendly, and encouraging others to do and be the best they can! When kids and ponies act in kindness, making new friends is easy, and they learn that other people and creatures have many more similarities differences even when they might look different and speak a different language!

¿Les voy a gustar? ¿Me entenderán? ¿Tenemos los mismos intereses? No nos parecemos en nada, entonces, ¿cómo podemos ser amigos?

Elvisel Poni y Topsy Turvy Tivio tienen muchos viejos amigos en Magistaad Stables que se parecen a ellos y suenan como ellos, pero Elvis el Poni está fuera de su zona de confort y no está seguro de hacer un nuevo amigo cuando una extraña criatura llega al espectáculo ecuestre.

¿Qué sucede cuando Elvis y Tivio conocen a alguien que no se parece ni suena como ellos?

Elvis se pone nervioso cuando escucha los ruidos extraños provenientes del nuevo animal parecido a un caballo en el espectáculo ecuestre. Tivio le asegura que no tiene nada que temer, ¡pero Elvis debe superar su miedo de conocer a alguien que no se parece ni suena como él! Muchos niños sienten ansiedad y miedo cuando se encuentran en lugares y situaciones nuevas y no están seguros de cómo hacer nuevos amigos. Elvis the Pony y Tivio muestran a los niños cómo pueden superar esos miedos siendo amables y amigables, y animando a otros a hacer y ser lo mejor que puedan. Cuando los niños y los ponis actúan con amabilidad, hacer nuevos amigos es fácil y aprenden que otras personas y criaturas tienen muchas más similitudes y diferencias, ¡incluso cuando se ven diferentes y hablan un idioma diferente!

Why is he so different from the other horses? He doesn't think he looks or feels different?

Time and time again, his friends are chosen over him, and they get to try new things and go on new adventures. Tivio is lonely and sad.

Will Tivio ever get chosen and find a new friend to share his adventures with?

All children will be 'left out' by their peers or adults at some point in their lives either on purpose or by accident. Regardless, feelings get hurt, and children will experience sadness and loneliness when they are not chosen by other friends on the playground, at friends' parties, or in the lunchroom; they will also experience not being chosen by the teacher in the classroom. They will not get picked for one reason or another because kids develop skills, knowledge, and physical attributes at different times.

You can use Topsy Turvy Tivio's experiences of feeling left out and not getting 'picked' to talk about being a good friend, including others in play, and recognizing each individual's differences. We are all not the same, and that is okay. Tivio's strengths make him special, and he just blossomed into his best self in his own space and time.