About the author
Sheila Lavelle (born 1939) writes for young readers of all ages, and has produced several well-regarded series, many of which I remember fondly from my time working in the local library. After working as a clerk and a teacher, she produced her first book, Ursula’s Bear, the first of the Ursula series, in 1977. It took her 15 years of trying to get published, and she only achieved it after doing a home study course which taught her ‘not how to write but how not to!’ So far, she has written over 50 books, with another 30 titles produced for school reading schemes.
Three of her books (though possibly more – please let me know if you know any I’ve missed out) involve ponies. Ursula, who began Sheila Lavelle’s writing life, rides in Ursula Riding, as does another of her series characters, Harry.
Finding the books
The paperbacks are easy to find in the UK; the Hamilton first editions rather less so. None were published in the USA.
Links and sources
Sheila Lavelle on Wordpool (no longer extant)
Sheila Lavelle at Penguin (link no longer extant)
Bibliography (pony books only)
Ursula Riding
Hamilton, London, 1985, illus Thelma Lambert, 39 pp.
Reprinted 1987
The Strawberry Jam Pony
Hamilton, London, 1987, illus Valerie Littlewood, 88 pp.
Puffin Books, 1989, pb.
Set in the 1920s, this is the story of a boy and a pit pony who loved strawberry jam sandwiches. Tommy can’t wait until he is able to join his brother working in the coal mines (he has another five years to go: you couldn’t at that point work in the mine until you were 14). He wants to drive the pit ponies, his favourite of which is Gleam. The ponies are then stolen, and Tommy tries to rescue them.
Harry’s Horse
Hamilton, London, 1987, illus Jo Davies, 30 pp.
Reprinted as a two in one: Harry’s Aunt and Harry’s Horse, Young Piper, UK
