Jeanne Betancourt

American author born in 1941. As a child she did not think about becoming an author as she was a terrible speller (and in fact is dyslexic). She actually  wanted to be a tap dancer! In reality she became a teacher and then embarked upon writing her first novel. She soon found she enjoyed writing and in time became a full-time author.

When young, she longed for a pony of her own, although never had one, so when she was asked to write a series by Scholastic Publishers about three girls and their ponies she jumped at the chance. Originally to be a run of only 6 books, the Pony Pals eventually series became 44! The series  is along the lines of the Saddle Club by Bonnie Bryant however the children in the Pony Pals books are younger, and I for one prefer these books to those in the Saddle Club.

As well as the Pony Pals series she has written a number of children's books for both younger readers and teenagers, and also some non-fitcion. Additionally she has written scripts for film and TV.

She lives in New York with a view of Manhattan and the Empire States building!

Jeanne has her own website where she comes across as a very nice person who seems to genuinely care about her readers, especially those who don't have ponies of their own and who read the books as a substitute. There you can find lots more about the author and the Pony Pals series, as well as info on her non pony books. Pics of the full series can be found on the links section. I have shown a selection only due to time constraints!

Pony Pals Series:
Long series about three young girls - Pam, Anna and Lulu - who all love ponies. Due to time and space constraints I have not included a picture or summary of each one!

Pictures of the whole series can be found here

Summaries of the first 6 books can be found here

There is also now an internet game based on the series.

EDITIONS PICTURED: From top to bottom: original paperbacks, recent UK paperbacks, super special editions, omnibus.

1) I WANT A PONY
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1995)
(UK Edition SCHOLASTIC 2006)

2) PONY FOR KEEPS
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1995)
(UK Edition SCHOLASTIC 2006)

3) PONY IN TROUBLE
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1995)
(UK Edition SCHOLASTIC 2006)

4) GIVE ME BACK MY PONY
(SHOLASTIC [USA] 1995)
UK Edition SCHOLASTIC 2006

5) PONY TO THE RESCUE
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1995)
UK Edition SCHOLASTIC 2006

6) TOO MANY PONIES
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1995)
UK Edition SCHOLASTIC 2006

7) RUNAWAY PONY
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1995)

8) GOODBYE PONY
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1996)

9) THE WILD PONY
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1996)

10) DON'T HURT MY PONY
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1996)

11) CIRCUS PONY
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1996)

12) KEEP OUT PONY!
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1996)

13) THE GIRL WHO HATED PONIES
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1997)

14) PONY-SITTERS
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1997)

15) THE BLIND PONY
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1997)

16) THE MISSING PONY PAL
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1997)

17) DETECTIVE PONY
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1998)

18) THE SADDEST PONY
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1998)

19) MOVING PONY
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1998)

20) STOLEN PONIES
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1999)

21) THE WINNING PONY
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1999)

22) WESTERN PONY
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1999)

23) THE PONY AND THE BEAR
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1999)

24) UNLUCKY PONY
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 2000)

25) THE LONELY PONY
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 2000)

26) MOVIE STAR PONY
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 2000)

27) THE PONY AND THE MISSING DOG
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 2000)

28) THE NEWBORN PONY
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 2000)

29) LOST AND FOUND PONY
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 2001)

30) PONY 4 SALE
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 2001)

31) PONIES FROM THE PAST
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 2001)

32) HE'S MY PONY
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 2001)

33) WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY PONY
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 2001)

34) THE PONY AND THE LOST SWAN
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 2002)

35) THE MAGIC PONY
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 2002)

36) THE PONY AND THE HAUNTED BARN
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 2002)

37) NO PONIES IN THE HOUSE
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 2003)

38) PONIES ON PARADE
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 2003)

Pony Pals Super Specials:

1) THE BABY PONY
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1996)

2) THE STORY OF OUR PONIES
aka THE LIVES OF OUR PONIES
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1997)

3) THE GHOST PONY
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1997)

4) THE FOURTH PONY PAL
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 2002)

5) PONY PROBLEM
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 2002)

6) THE LAST PONY RIDE
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 2004)

Other editions:

PONY PALS BOX SET OMNIBUS
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 2001)
Contains books 1-10

PONY PALS OMNIBUS VOLUME 2
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 2004)
Contains books 4-8

Collectors info:
First editions were paperbacks. There were also some hardback editions published in the USA. The first 6 books in the series have recently been re-published in the UK with unfortunately twee covers. These are all in print. Of the older books, some are still in print, others are not. Second hand copies can be found quite easily in both the UK and USA.

Pony Mysteries Series:
Mystery series for younger readers.

1) PENNY AND PEPPER
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 2011)
ILLUSTRATED BY KELLEE REILLY
SUMMARY: Penny gets a pony called Pepper from her grandparents. Together with Pepper and some new friends she sets out to solve local mysteries, including that of a frightened kitten.

2) THE CLUE IN THE CLUBHOUSE
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 2011)
ILLUSTRATED BY KELLEE REILLY
SUMMARY: Penny and her friends make their very own club house. But they also have time to solve a mystery with the help of pony Pepper.

Collectors info:
Paperback originals. At the moment both In print and available in the UK and USA.