Helen Lossing Johnson & Margaret S. Johnson

Mother and daughter writing team. The family loved animals and nature and the pair wrote a number of books about dogs and horses together. Both were also talented artists and illustrated the books themselves. After the death of her mother Helen, Margaret continued to write and illustrate books solo.

Horse & Pony Books by both Helen and Margaret:

STABLEMATES: THE STORY OF DICK AND DAISY
(HARCOURT, BRACE & CO [USA] 1942)
ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHORS
Reprinted in hardback by original publishers.
SUMMARY: Pony point of view story. The horses Dick and Daisy have been stablemates all their life and don't like to be apart. But after a hunting accident injures Daisy and makes Dick lose his nerve the pair are parted. Will they ever see each other again?

DIXIE DOBIE: A SABLE ISLAND PONY
(HARCOURT, BRACE & CO [USA] 1945)
ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHORS
SUMMARY: Pony story set in Canada. Dixie the wild pony is taken off her island home and put on a ship bound for Nova Scotia. But on the way she falls overboard. She is found by John Dobie who tries to tame her.

Collector's Info:
Though not common, the books are still fairly easy to find in the USA. Rare elsewhere.

Horse & Pony Books by Margaret only:

RED JOKER
(MORROW [USA] 1950)
ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR
SUMMARY: Dog and pony story. The reject red setter Joker becomes a companion to the nervous race horse Ace of Diamonds. When the horse is stolen and taken to Mexico Joker goes with his pal.

SILVER DAWN
(MORROW [USA] 1958)
ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR
SUMMARY: Julie must sell her jumper mare Silver Dawn as her father needs the money for his stable. But the horse ends up in the circus where she is hurt.

KELPIE: A SHETLAND PONY
(MORROW [USA] 1962)
ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR
(1st UK edition WHEATON 1963)
Reprinted in the UK in 1963 by Wheaton.
SUMMARY: Younger reader's story. Kelpie the Shetland is sold to a dealer. But he promptly escapes and tries to find his way back to his owner Hugh, ending up stranded on a small island.

Collector's Info:
Though not common, the books are still fairly easy to find in the USA, with Silver Dawn being the rarest. Kelpie was also published in the UK, although it is not that easy to find there. The other two are very hard to find outside of the USA and may be expensive.