History Literature / WinniAllfours

Winni Allfours is a girl who lives in the countryside and wants a pony more than anything in the world. But her parents don’t approve the idea, and prefer enforcing their strict vegetarian lifestyle upon their daughter. When the school dinner lady comments that Winni “will turn into a horse” from eating so many vegetables, Winni decides to put her theory to the test, and sure enough, this works!

* AnAesop: Mostly averted. Babette Cole set out to write a fun story, not deliver any Aesops, other than the classic “eat your greens”. Which is just as well. Most whimsical children’s books don’t look that healthy when seen through the lens of an Aesop, but this one counts as a strong offender.

* CoolHorse: Take a guess. In addition to being a fast racer Winni can also talk and drive cars.

* ToughLove: Mr and Mrs Allfours. Proves quite beneficial to Winni in the end.
* TransformationSequence: Two pages showing Winni’s gradual transformation from petite girl to chubby pony. Since it’s described as ‘slow’, one wonders why nobody noticed until the [[TransformationIsAFreeAction transformation was complete]].

* AllGirlsLikePonies: This particular girl takes things UpToEleven.

* CoolHorse: Take a guess. We dare you.

* FantasyForbiddingFather: Winni's parents disapprove of her ever owning a pony, so Winni takes a different route.

* IChooseToStay as a horse.

''Winni Allfours'' is a 1995 book by British children’s author BabetteCole, writer of certain popular kindergarten stories (''Supermoo'', ''Princess Smartypants'' and ''Literature/PrinceCinders'') which are known for adding a zany twist to familiar elements from fairy tales or comic books.

This story is a little different. The plot is simple –

* BecomingTheGenie: Well, sorta. Winni never did get a horse, but she likes being one. She also doesn’t seem to mind having a rider. (No, [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant not that kind]], you perverts)

* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: Except for her parents, nobody is struck by a racehorse that was once a little girl – and still speaks, too.
** Possibly justified in that Winni’s pony friend, Snowdrop, appears perfectly capable of communicating with her owner Paddy. Averted when Winni steals her kidnappers’ lorry.

* AnAesop: Mostly averted. Babette Cole set out to write a fun story, not deliver any Aesops, other than the classic “eat your greens”. Which is just as well. Most whimsical children’s books don’t look that healthy when seen through the lens of an Aesop, but this one counts as a strong offender. Thank you, FridgeLogic!

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation
** Winni Allfours: PluckyGirl who just wishes to follow her dreams, regardless of her parents’ stuffiness? Or irresponsible, short-sighted and selfish EnfantTerrible?
** Mr and Mrs Allfours: Strict, relatively humourless parents who gain some enlightenment from their daughter’s remarkable triumph? Or misguided grown-ups who only want what’s best for their daughter, and inadvertently end up profiting financially but losing their child in the process?
** Paddy: An open-minded adult who wants to help Winni achieve her ambition? Or a schemer who’s more subtle than O’Toole in exploiting Winni?

* FridgeHorror: Not so much the fact that Winni has become trapped in horse shape, since she can theoretically turn back. No, you’ll eventually remember that horses don’t live very long when compared to humans…

* NeverGrewUp: Can be safely assumed to be Winni’s ultimate fate. She doesn’t mind at all, but when you think things through... *shudder.

** FantasticAesop: See below for both young and old.
** FamilyUnfriendlyAesop: For children. Always eat your vegetables. Your parents may not always give you what you want, but it’s good to obey them, because you may get what you want… since you’ve been sneakily exploiting their demands to your own ends. And thing gets better from there! Once you’ve got what you wanted, don’t feel guilty about turning down your parents after that, because you’re having such fun! No school again, ever!
** [[SpaceWhaleAesop Horse Girl Aesop]]: For adults. Always grant your kid’s wishes. Avoid trying to impose something else on them. Not because perhaps you’re being narrow-minded… but because they’ll turn the tables on you, exploiting the very thing you wanted them to do. See that’s what happens. Your daughter wants a horse, but all you want is her to eat vegetables? She’ll eat them… to turn into a horse!

''Winni Allfours'' is a 1995 book by British children’s author BabetteCole, writer of certain popular kindergarten stories (''Supermoo'', ''Princess Smartypants'' and ''Prince Cinders'') which are known for adding a zany twist to familiar elements from fairy tales or comic books.

* BecomingTheGenie: Well, sorta. Winni never did get a horse, but she likes being one. She also doesn’t seem to mind having a rider. (No, [[IThoughtItMeant not that kind]], you perverts)

-->''That’s no ordinary horse!''

* VillainWhoDoesntDoAnything: O’Toole has virtually no importance to the plot, other than to set up the above joke. Mr and Mrs Allfours’ refusal to sell Winni to him also shows that they’re not bad parents.

''Winni Allfours'' is a 1995 book by British children’s author Babette Cole, writer of certain popular kindergarten stories (''Supermoo'', ''Princess Smartypants'' and ''Prince Cinders'') which are known for adding a zany twist to familiar elements from fairy tales or comic books.

* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: Except for her parents, nobody is struck by racehorse that was once a little girl – and still speaks, too.

** Paddy: An open-minded adult who wants to help Winni achieve her ambition? Or a schemer who’s more subtle than O’Connor in exploiting Winni?

** [[SpaceWhaleAesop HorseGirlAesop]]: For adults. Always grant your kid’s wishes. Avoid trying to impose something else on them. Not because perhaps you’re being narrow-minded… but because they’ll turn the tables on you, exploiting the very thing you wanted them to do. See that’s what happens. Your daughter wants a horse, but all you want is her to eat vegetables? She’ll eat them… to turn into a horse!

* [[SelfMadeMan SelfMadePony]]: Literally.