Helga Sandburg

American author and poet. Born in Illinois in 1918. She was the daughter of the famous poet Carl Sandburg and her uncle was the renowned photographer Ed Steichen. Because of her famous relations she was brought up in a somewhat rarefied atmosphere and moved in ever increasingly famous circles, meeting such people as Charlie Chaplin and Lillian Gish. However, despite her exciting childhood, Helga's real childhood love was for animals and nature.

She soon began to follow in her father's footsteps, writing poetry and stories. She also painted and travelled a lot. She wrote a number of children's stories. As to be expected, animals and nature featured a lot in these books. There was a short pony series based a little on her childhood experiences with horses, and a stand-alone donkey story. A couple of these may require the use of hankies as have sad moments!

Kristin & Danny Series:

1) BLUEBERRY
(DIAL [USA] 1963)
ILLUSTRATED BY
Reprinted in hardback by original publisher.
Also a German edition entitled KRISTIN UND BLUEBERRY
SUMMARY: After persuading her family she is responsible enough to look after a horse, Kristin has fun with her new buckskin mare Blueberry and her friend, the gypsy boy Danny. But her father thinks she is irresponsible and does not like Danny.

2) GINGERBREAD
(DIAL [USA] 1964)
ILLUSTRATED BY CHARLES GEER
Reprinted in hardback by original publisher.
SUMMARY: Kristin and Danny are excited as Blueberry is due to have a foal, but all does not go well….

Collector's Info:
Both fairly easy to find in the USA. A lot harder to get hold of elsewhere however.

Other Horse & Pony Books:

BO AND THE OLD DONKEY
(DIAL [USA] 1965)
ILLUSTRATED BY MARION MORTON
Reprinted in hardback by original publisher.
SUMMARY: Donkey story. Tearjerker about a boy who must come to terms with the fact his pet donkey is old and cannot live much longer.

Collector's Info:
Fairly easy to find in the USA, quite a bit harder to track down elsewhere and if you can find it may be expensive.