''Good Luck to the Rider'' (1953) is the first children's book by Australian author

Joan Phipson Joan Margaret Phipson AM (1912–2003) was an Australian children's writer. She lived on a farm in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales and many of her books evoke the stress and satisfaction of living in the Australian countryside, flood ...

; it was illustrated by

Margaret Horder Margaret Horder (12 December 1903 – 26 September 1978) was an Australian artist and children's book illustrator. She is best known for illustrating books by Joan Phipson, Patricia Wrightson and Nan Chauncy. Career Horder was born in Burwo ...

. It was joint winner of the Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers in 1953.

Story outline

Barbara Trevor is the youngest of four children living on their parents' farm in country Australia. Barbara has acquired a horse, which she calls Rosinante, though she doesn't know the origin of the name. The book follows her attempts to school her horse and come to terms with her own life.

Critical reception

In a survey of children's books to signal the commencement of Children's Book Week in 1953 a reviewer in ''The Sunday Herald'' (Sydney) stated: "Australian country life is well described in a wholesome story. All the characters ring true. The Trevors are an unaffected family. Their homestead is typical of many in this broad land, and the four children act and live like normal children...There are no contrived adventures; it is a natural, easy flowing story which will entertain and absorb the attention of its readers. Margaret Horder's illustrations have caught the spirit of the book, and particularly of Rosinante." ''

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...

'' praised the author's handling of the material: "When uncertain girl meets unwanted horse, it's bound to be love at first sight, confidence in the last chapter, but with Joan Phipson putting the familiar plot through its paces almost every moment counts".Review of ''Good Luck to the Rider'' in ''Kirkus Review''
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Awards

* 1953 - winner Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Good Luck to the Rider Australian children's novels 1953 Australian novels Pony books Novels set in Australia CBCA Children's Book of the Year Award-winning works 1953 children's books Angus & Robertson books Children's books set in Australia

Story outline

Critical reception

Awards

See also

References