Patricia Beatty (1922-1991)

American author of children's novels. Born in 1922 in Portland, Oregon. As a child she lived near Native American tribes and eventually became an adopted daughter of the Quillayute people. When she began writing in the 1950s she used this background in her writing, with her first book, The Indian Canoemaker, being about the life of the Native Americans before the missionaries arrived. Most of her books had a historical setting and she is noted for being an outstanding author of children's historical fiction. One of her books features a horse, one mules, and these are both historical stories. She also co-authored books with her husband John Beatty, one of which is a story about a donkey set in biblical times.

As well as writing books, Ms. Beatty  also worked as a librarian and taught creative writing.

Horse & Pony Books:

A DONKEY FOR THE KING
(With John Beatty)
(MACMILLAN [USA] 1966)
ILLUSTRATED BY ANNE SIBERELL
SUMMARY: A donkey story set in biblical times. Belshazzar is the donkey who carries Mary to Bethlehem and Jesse is the mute boy who loves him. This is their story.

I WANT MY SUNDAY, STRANGER
(WILLIAM MORROW [USA] 1977)
SUMMARY: Historical pony story set in the American Civil War. Thirteen year old Andrew leaves his California home and sets off east to search for his grey horse Sunday, who was stolen by Confederate soldiers.

EIGHT MULES FROM MONTEREY
(WILLIAM MORROW [USA] 1982)
Reprinted by Morrow (Beech Tree Books) in paperback in 1993.
SUMMARY: Historical story. Fayette spends an exciting summer travelling the California countryside with her family and a group of mules, as her mother attempts to set up libraries in isolated villages throughout the area.

Collector's Info:
Easy to find in the USA, although A Donkey For the King is a little rarer than the other two. Copies of Eight Mules can be found in the UK, although the other two are harder to find here. However all the books can be bought from the USA and shipped elsewhere at not too much expense.