Magic will step out of the pages of a children’s book, Fritz and the Beautiful Horses. With audience volunteers and costumes, Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses will act out the story.

The book is a modern classic, with exquisite illustrations by the author, by Jan Brett.

Fritz, a pony excluded from the group of beautiful horses within the walled city, becomes a hero when he rescues the children of the city. Fritz was not beautiful. He didn't have a braided mane or a glossy coat. He couldn't prance with long, graceful strides like the elegant horses who carried lords and lovely ladies to the city – a city that allowed only the most beautiful horses within its walls. The citizens laughed at the short-legged pony's attempts to be like their own horses.

Combined with the tiny horses from Gentle Carousel, this will be an unforgettable experience for children, not to mention their parents.

“We are going to be bringing Peanut and Aladdin,” said Debbie Garcia-Bengochea. “Peanut is the smallest horse in the world (non-dwarf) at only 19 inches tall. Aladdin is only 21 inches tall.”

Gentle Carousel brings Reading is Magic to the Fort White Community Center on State Road 47, across the street from the Library, on Friday, June 24, at 11 a.m.

The Main Branch Library in Lake City hosts Gentle Carousel’s Reading is Magic at 2 p.m. on Friday. The Library is at 308 N. Columbia Street.

Both programs are free, sponsored by Friends of the Library.

“We will also be reading another book with the help of our little hero horse Magic. Recently, she was selected a Reader's Digest /Americantowns Power of One Hero (the only non-human),” Debbie said.

“National Geographic flew in and followed Magic at work for three days (the article should be out in November). We also just did a photo shoot for People magazine.”

Gentle Carousel's Reading Is Magic brings real horses inside schools, at risk youth programs and libraries to inspire young readers and "bring books to life." The tiny horses in the program look like the horse characters in loved children's books.

Programs like the ones at the Columbia County Libraries inspire children to read. They infuse the joy of reading for youngsters who may not think of reading as fun.

Equally inspiring are the visits to hospitals and nursing homes, where a visit from a miniature horse is a surprise and a delight. One woman, a resident in a nursing home, had not spoken in three years when Magic came to visit. "Isn't she beautiful," were her first words. "It's a horse."

That moment changed her life forever.

Magic has been named The Most Heroic Pet in America by AARP.

And she has been honored by Time/CNN which named her one of 10 of History's Most Courageous Animals.

Magic and Gentle Carousel have fans all over the world. Benji, the movie star, came to North Florida, with his owner, Joe Camp, and his wife Kathleen. Camp is a film writer, producer, director, bestselling author and man behind the canine superstar. He is the author of The Soul of a Horse.

Debbie and Jorge Garcia-Bengochea formed Gentle Carousel as a non-profit corporation, a “public charity dedicated to delivering therapeutic visits to children and adults in hospitals, hospice, nursing homes, group homes or confined at home.

Peanut, the smallest horse in the world at 21 inches tall, had the lead role, supported by Magic and Aladdin and eight children from the audiences.

Four children at each performance played the townspeople, bowing to the regally dressed Magic and Aladdin. This tiny chorus of townspeople spoke in unison.

Peanut, the horse that was not considered to be beautiful, sadly stayed outside the town.

All this changed when a hero was needed and Peanut rushed to the rescue. The cheering townspeople dressed Peanut in finery and paraded him around the audience.

A meet-the-cast party followed the performance, as soon and the little horses exchanged their acting costumes for casual dress – Hawaiian shirts.

Then it was all hugs and kisses, giggles and laughter as children lined up to greet the stars and pose for photos.

This is Gentle Carousel, a non-profit organization that takes the miniature horses to hospitals and nursing homes to bring cheer and laughter to patients – young and old – giving them and their families special moments to remember.

The program has expanded to encourage children to read with Reading Is Magic.

After each performance, the children are asked if they have library cards. Virtually all the children without library cards suddenly want one and they want to read the featured book or one from a list, Reading Is Magic Favorite Book List. Copies of the list are available at both libraries.

The performances on Friday were at the Fort White Community Center and the Main Branch of the Columbia County Public Library. Friends of the Columbia County Public Library sponsored the events.

North Florida is horse country, but the 200 or more people who visited the Gentle carousel programs Tuesday had never seen anything like Rainbow and Magic.

The two miniature therapy horses visit often patients in hospitals and homes, but they also inspire children to read books.

Each of the Gentle Carousel horses looks exactly like the main character in a children’s book. Gentle Carousel reading programs encourage groups of children to read a book. At the end of the program they get a special treat – a visit with the horse.

That concept has become so successful and so inspiring that authors now are writing books featuring Gentle Carousel horses.

Rainbow has a publisher and is going to star in a series of children's books.

Friends of the Columbia County Public Library sponsored the Tuesday visits to Fort White and Lake City.

In Fort White, the Library used the Community Center for the morning program because a large space was needed.

Two adjoining meeting rooms in the Lake City Main Branch were filled with families in the afternoon.

These were two of the largest reading programs the library has sponsored said Stephanie Tyson, Library Program Specialist. Friends of the Library promised to sponsor future programs with Gentle Carousel.

Debbie Garcia-Bengochea noted that Sundance, a beautiful silver buckskin color horse, stars in the recently published children's novel Jason and Elihu, A Fisherman’s Story, published by Wild Onion Press.  

Wild Onion Press publishes books featuring children with various physical differences. Their philosophy is that a physical difference is not a disability, it is merely an outstanding characteristic.  

Photos of Sundance appear in Jason and Elihu. Sundance's outgoing personality was captured by author Shelley Fraser Mickle, including his love of peppermints and his talent for smiling Debbie said. Sundance makes special appearances with Gentle Carousel's Reading Is Magic programs.

A portion of the proceeds of this book is being donated to Florida's foster care system prevention programs. Books can be purchased at Publix.

On Tuesday, Magic and Rainbow were the stars of the show.

And guests were told the story of how Magic became the AARP “Most Heroic Pet of the Year.”

Magic was visiting the Hampton Manor assisted living facility in Belleview and was introduced to Kathleen Loper. "Isn't she beautiful," said Ms. Loper. "It's a horse!"

Ms. Loper had not spoken a word since she arrived at the facility three years earlier.  The activities director began to cry and told the woman she loved her. "I love you too," the woman answered – her first full sentence to another person in three years.

At the County libraries, none of the visitors needed inspiration to speak. But all the books about animals that Stephanie Tyson set on display for the event were checked out by children as they left the program.

For more information about Gentle Carousel, the many animals and the programs, visit http://www.horse-therapy.org

Gentle Carousel is a non-profit organization and depends on donations to support the therapy and reading programs.