Kimpton, Diana

About the author

Diana Kimpton is a much-published children’s author who has cornered the market in superior pony tales for the young reader. She herself rode as a child, and has started riding again after a long break. Her first riding lesson had rather an abrupt start when the horse vanished from underneath her very shortly after she’d got on, but things have improved since then. The Pony-Mad Princess series is very well worth seeking out. I loved them. It is very easy to be put off books by their covers, but despite their girliness, the Pony-Mad Princess books are fine reads. Their heroine is feisty and not remotely princess-like in her behaviour.

The series has been published in America as The Pony-Crazed Princess, and some of the titles have been changed.

Diana has written a new book with a heroine called Sasha, There Must be Horses, which is a very fine read. Of her other writing, Diana says:
‘I love writing the Pony-Mad Princess books. I can let my imagination fly and combine my passion for ponies with my delight in making people laugh. There’s definitely a little bit of me in Ellie but my life was never that exciting or that much fun.’

Finding the books
All are still in print.

Links and sources
Diana Kimpton’s website

Series

Pony-Mad Princess
Princess Ellie to the Rescue
Princess Ellie’s Secret
A Puzzle for Princess Ellie
Princess Ellie’s Starlight Adventure
Princess Ellie and the Moonlight Mystery
A Surprise for Princess Ellie
Princess Ellie’s Holiday Adventure
Princess Ellie and the Palace Plot
Princess Ellie’s Christmas
Princess Ellie Saves the Day
Princess Ellie’s Summer Holiday
Princess Ellie’s Secret Treasure Hunt
Princess Ellie’s Perfect Plan


Bibliography


Princess Ellie to the Rescue

Usborne Books, London, 2004, 95 pp. Illus Lizzie Finlay
Hyperion, New York, 2006, 80 pp.

My review of the book

When disaster strikes, Ellie is sure the mysterious girl in the woods must be to blame. Can she solve the mystery and save her beloved pony, Sundance, before it is too late?

Princess Ellie’s Secret

Usborne Books, London, 2004, 87 pp. Illus Lizzie Finlay
Hyperion, New York, 2006, 87 pp.

Ellie has grown too tall to ride Shadow, her Shetland pony. She can’t bear the thought of losing him so she thinks of a secret plan to stop him being sold.

A Puzzle for Princess Ellie

Usborne Books, London, 2004, 85 pp. Illus Lizzie Finlay
Republished in the US as Princess Ellie’s Mystery
Hyperion, New York, 2006, 83 pp.

Ellie has to solve the puzzle of why Rainbow won’t go down the spooky woodland path.

Princess Ellie’s Starlight Adventure

Usborne Books, London, 2004, 89 pp. Illus Lizzie Finlay
Hyperion, New York, 2006, 88 pp.

When mysterious hoofprints appear on the palace lawn, Ellie’s ponies get the blame. To clear their names, she sets out to find the real culprit

Princess Ellie and the Moonlight Mystery

Usborne Books, London, 2004, 91 pp. Illus Lizzie Finlay
Reprinted in the US as Princess Ellie’s Camping Trip)
Hyperion, New York, 2006, 90 pp.

While they are camping with the ponies, Ellie and Kate hear mysterious noises in the middle of the night.

A Surprise for Princess Ellie

Usborne Books, London, 2004, 93 pp. Illus Lizzie Finlay
Hyperion, New York, 2007, 88 pp.

Ellie, Kate and John set off in search of adventure and end up with a big surprise.

Princess Ellie’s Holiday Adventure

Usborne Books, London, 2005, 95 pp. Illus Lizzie Finlay
Republished in the US as Princess Ellie’s Snowy Ride
Hyperion, New York, 2007, 90 pp.

On a royal visit to Prince John in Andirovia, Ellie is enchanted by the snowy mountains, but when she and her friends go for a ride, they soon discover that snow isn’t always fun – it can be scary too.

Princess Ellie and the Palace Plot

Usborne Books, London, 2005, 95 pp.
Reprinted in the US as Princess Ellie Solves a Mystery
Hyperion, New York, 2007, 88 pp.

Ellie doesn’t trust the new arrival at the palace but the King and Queen won’t believe there is anything wrong. Can Starlight help her uncover his cunning plot?

Princess Ellie’s Christmas

Usborne Books, London, 2005, 94 pp. Illus Lizzie Finlay
Reprinted in the US as Princess Ellie’s Royal Jamboree
Hyperion, New York, 2008, 89 pp.

Ellie wants Christmas to be wonderful but things aren’t going to plan… The present for her best friend, Kate, hasn’t arrived. And everyone in the palace is in a fluster because of the rehearsals for the King’s TV Christmas broadcast.

Princess Ellie Saves the Day

Usborne, London, 2006, 93 pp.
Reprinted in the US as Princess Ellie Takes Charge
Hyperion, New York, 2007, 91 pp.

When Meg has to go to hospital, Ellie is sure that she and Kate can run the stables. But they soon discover that looking after six ponies is more difficult than they expected. Then disaster strikes and Moonbeam is in danger.

Princess Ellie’s Summer Holiday

Usborne Books, London, 2006, 140 pp. Illus Lizzie Finlay
Reprinted in the US as Princess Ellie’s Summer Vacation
Hyperion, New York, 2007, 130 pp.

Another princess causes problems for Ellie and Kate.

Princess Ellie’s Secret Treasure Hunt

Usborne Books, London, 2007, 95 pp. Illus Lizzie Finlay
Hyperion, New York, 2008, 91 pp.

When Ellie finds a map hidden in the palace library, she sets off on a hunt for secret treasure with Kate and John.

Doctor Hoof

Scholastic, London, 2011

My review of the book

A picture book for the younger reader, in which Doctor Hoof sets up business as a
doctor. It is, however, a problem being a doctor when you will only treat horses, and you are the only horse in town.

There Must be Horses

Diana Kimpton, 2012, 228 pp.
Also available as an ebook

My review of the book

Sasha’s adoptive parents have given up on her, and she is off to yet another set of foster parents, for yet another temporary placement. She is now a hard-to-place child, too old to be cute, too spiky and difficult after a lifetime of constant rejection to make her an easy fit into a family. Sasha loves horses, and her new foster placement is at a stables which rehabilitates horses. Meteor
arrives on the same day as Sasha, too petrified of humanity to let anyone near him.

Princess Ellie’s Perfect Plan

Usborne, London, 2014, 96 pp.

My review of the book

Princess Ellie loves riding her five ponies with her friend Kate, but Kate’s parents make a big
announcement, and Ellie is faced with losing her best friend. Ellie is determined that somehow, she’s going to change everyone’s minds, but can she do it in time?

Other books

Pony Puzzles
Macmillan, London, 1996, 120 pp.

Horse Stories that Really Happened
Hippo, 1999, 125 pp.

Perfectly Pony
Ebook only, Kindle/Nook/Kobo, 2012