Mary Calhoun

Award-winning American author of children's books. She is a fairly prolific writer with over 50 titles to her name. Her novels include adventures, fantasies and animal stories. In particular she likes to write stories about cats; they feature in many of her books, including her popular series about an adventurous Siamese cat called Henry.

Her equine-related books include a horse story and a re-telling of a fable featuring a donkey, although she has also written a fictionalised account of the true life ill-fated attempt by the US Army to replace pack mules with camels, called Camels are Meaner Than Mules. However, much as I am tempted to add this title to the page, I think I must draw the line at including camels in a pony book website!

Horse & Pony Books:

THE HORSE COMES FIRST
(ATHANEUM [USA] 1974)
ILLUSTRATED BY JOHN GRETZER
Also a Book Club edition.
SUMMARY: Harness racing story. When Randy goes to spend the summer with his grandpa and aunt who race trotters, he soon finds out that the horses really do come first!

OLD MAN WHICKOTT'S DONKEY
(PARENT'S MAGAZINE PRESS [USA] 1975)
ILLUSTRATED BY TOMIE DE PAOLO
SUMMARY: Younger readers donkey story picture book, illustrated with colour illustrations. A re-telling of a fable in which a man, a boy and a donkey set out to market but are criticised by their neighbours.

Collector's Info:
Both easy to find in the USA and usually quite cheap, but can be harder to get hold of elsewhere.