Stephen Cosgrove

American author of children's novels. Born in 1945 in Metaline Falls, Washington. He began writing books for his young daughter, when he couldn't find anything suitable for her in the bookshops. He wanted to create a 'fun to read story that contained a subtle message of some sort' and created the Serendipity series of books. He even created his own publishing company so he could control the way the books were produced and marketed. He was so successful that his books soon became bestsellers and he has now written over 300 titles. Although mainly writing for young children, he has also written for older children and young adults.

Nearly all his stories for young children feature animal characters and quite a few feature equines. His pony-related titles are mainly of the fantasy type with magic horses and unicorns and are all aimed at younger readers.

Stephen has his own website where you can find more about him and his books.

Morgan Series:
Younger readers unicorn series, based around a unicorn character called Morgan. As with most of the author's books, there is a moral running through the tales. I don't think there is any particular reading order. I have listed the books in publishing order. For numerous reviews of the series please visit Amazon.

MORGAN AND ME
(SERENDIPITY PRESS [USA] 1975)
ILLUSTRATED BY ROBIN JAMES
Reprinted in paperback by Price Stern Sloan/Penguin.
Later editions were revised.
Still in print.
SUMMARY: A little girl daydreams about unicorns and princesses and keeps putting off the chores she is supposed to be doing. Then she meets Morgan, a real unicorn who needs her help and this changes her lackadaisical ways.

MORGAN AND YEW
(PRICE, STERN, SLOAN/PENGUIN [USA] 1983)
ILLUSTRATED BY ROBIN JAMES
Reprinted in paperback by original publishers.
Later editions were revised.
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Yew the sheep wants a horn like his friend Morgan the unicorn, but when his wish seems to come true, Yew finds out that it is at a costly price for his friend.

MORGAN MINE
(PRICE, STERN, SLOAN/PENGUIN [USA] 1982)
ILLUSTRATED BY ROBIN JAMES
Reprinted in paperback by original publishers.
Later editions were revised.
Still in print.
SUMMARY: A princess learns about the value of friendship with the help of Morgan the unicorn.

MORGAN MORNING
(PRICE, STERN, SLOAN/PENGUIN [USA] 1982)
ILLUSTRATED BY ROBIN JAMES
Reprinted in paperback by original publishers.
Later editions were possibly revised.
Still in print.
SUMMARY: A little colt learns to cope with loss with the help of a unicorn.
NB - This book has mixed reviews and some people consider it too upsetting for their young children.

MISTY MORGAN
(PRICE, STERN, SLOAN/PENGUIN [USA] 1987)
ILLUSTRATED BY ROBIN JAMES
Reprinted in paperback by original publishers.
Still in print.
SUMMARY: A princess regrets her behaviour when she loses her unicorn friend.

Collector's Info:
The first book was published originally by the author's own publishing company Serendipity Press. However as this was merged into Penguin in 1978, the books were then published by Penguin under the Price, Stern, Sloan imprint. They were also reprinted a number of times in paperback, the later editions being revised. All are still in print in the USA, some in print in the UK. Used copies are also very easy to find in both America and the UK.

Other Pony Books:

FLUTTERBY
(SERENDIPITY PRESS [USA] 1976)
ILLUSTRATED BY ROBIN JAMES
Reprinted in paperback by Price Stern Sloan/Penguin.
SUMMARY: Flutterby, the miniature pegasus foal sets out to find her identity.

NITTER PITTER
(PRICE, STERN, SLOAN/PENGUIN [USA] 1978)
ILLUSTRATED BY ROBIN JAMES
Reprinted in paperback by original publishers.
Later editions were revised.
SUMMARY: Nitter Pitter is the most beautiful horse around, but he must learn that looks are not all important.

SHIMMEREE
(PRICE, STERN, SLOAN/PENGUIN [USA] 1980)
ILLUSTRATED BY ROBIN JAMES
Reprinted in paperback by original publishers.
Later editions were possibly revised.
SUMMARY: A magical horse learns to appreciate people who are different.

FLUTTERBY FLY
(PRICE, STERN, SLOAN/PENGUIN [USA] 1984)
ILLUSTRATED BY ROBIN JAMES
Reprinted in paperback by original publishers.
SUMMARY: Flutterby Fly keeps the butterflies in check and stops them listening to gossip.

GLITTERBY BABY
(PRICE, STERN, SLOAN/PENGUIN [USA] 1985)
ILLUSTRATED BY ROBIN JAMES
Reprinted in paperback by original publishers.
Later editions were revised.
SUMMARY: Glitterby is a flying horse. She joins a herd of earthbound horses and the stallion sires her new foal. But the baby has only tiny wings. Will she ever be able to fly like her mother?

MUMKIN
(PRICE, STERN, SLOAN/PENGUIN [USA] 1986)
ILLUSTRATED BY ROBIN JAMES
Reprinted in paperback by original publishers.
SUMMARY: Mumkin the pony must learn to share.

BUTTERWINGS
(PRICE, STERN, SLOAN/PENGUIN [USA] 1995)
ILLUSTRATED BY ROBIN JAMES
Reprinted in paperback by original publishers.
Still in print.
SUMMARY: A little winged filly is horrified when she discovers she has purple spots on her rump. Can she learn to accept her appearance and not take herself so seriously?

SOOTY FOOT
(PRICE, STERN, SLOAN/PENGUIN [USA] 2003)
ILLUSTRATED BY ROBIN JAMES
Reprinted in paperback by original publishers.
SUMMARY: The filly Sooty Foot is taken advantage of by her new friend Rusty the cat.

Collector's Info:
Butterwings in still in print and can be bought new in both the USA and UK. The others are easily found second-hand in the USA. However some titles may be quite a lot harder to find elsewhere, certainly they are not as easy to find in the UK as the Morgan series.