Emma L. Brock (1886-1974)

Emma Lillian Brock was an American author and illustrator. Born in 1886 in Fort Shaw, Montana. She studied art at the Minneapolis School of Art. As well as illustrating other authors' works, she began writing and illustrating her own books in 1929 and went on to publish over 30 titles, almost all with the publishers Knopf.

Quite a few of her books were pony-related, including a series about a quirky pony called Kristie, the first of which was made into a TV special on NBC, although I cannot find any information about this at all.

Kristie Series:

1) HERE COMES KRISTIE
aka GOOD OLD KRISTIE (see below)
(KNOPF [USA] 1942)
ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR
Reprinted in hardback by the original publisher a number of times.
There was also a picture book version of the story published  under the title GOOD OLD KRISTIE by Holt, Rinehart & Winston in 1964. (See below for more details)
SUMMARY: Erik and Elmer save up their money to buy a horse but when they get Kristie she refuses to be ridden and will only pull a cart. Even worse she has very strange habits such as wanting to wear a hat and only turning left!

2) KRISTIE AND THE COLT AND THE OTHERS
(KNOPF [USA] 1949)
ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR
Reprinted in hardback by the original publisher.
SUMMARY: Three stories about the oddball horse Kristie, including one about her dislike of the new colt Erik and Elmer get for their birthday.

3) KRISTIE'S BUTTERCUP
(KNOPF [USA] 1952)
ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR
Reprinted in hardback by the original publisher.
SUMMARY: Kristie makes friends with Buttercup the Holstein cow.

4) KRISTIE GOES TO THE FAIR
(KNOPF [USA] 1953)
ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR
SUMMARY: Kristie's hat is destroyed and she won't go anywhere without it!

Other Editions:

GOOD OLD KRISTIE
(HOLT, RINEHART & WILSON [USA] 1964)
ILLUSTRATED BY FRANK ALOISE
SUMMARY: A picture book version of the first book in the series, Here Comes Kristie. Intended for younger readers. With new illustrations.

Collector's Info:
All fairly easy to find in the USA, although much harder elsewhere.

Other Horse & Pony Books:

PATTY ON HORSEBACK
(KNOPF [USA] 1959)
ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR
Reprinted in hardback by the original publisher.
SUMMARY: Patty is overjoyed to win a horse a her own in the riding academy's contest, but her prize is a young colt which she cannot ride!

PLUG-HORSE DERBY
(KNOPF [USA] 1955)
ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR
SUMMARY: Nancy is excited when she hears that there is to be a new race for heavy work horses: the Plug-Horse Derby. She thinks her farm horse Plow Boy will have a chance and sets out to train him.

Collector's Info:
Fairly easy to find in the USA, harder elsewhere and may be expensive. Probably cheaper to buy from the USA, even including postage costs.