Sheryn Dee

Australian author of modern pony stories. She has worked as an actor, screenwriter and teacher as well as suthor. Her pony stories are for the much younger reader and form an Australian-based series about a girl called Jess and her pony Magic. This series is slightly confusing as it is known under two series titles: Aussie Pony Tales and A Pony Called Magic and each book contains two stories! I have hopefully clarified which book is which and series order below!

As well as the pony books, Sheryn has also written a children's story set in Antarctica and an activity book.

Sheryn Dee has her own website

Aussie Pony Tales/A Pony Called Magic Series:
Younger children's (age 5-8) series known under both titles. They are set on an Australian sheep farm. Each book has two stories about Jess and her pony Magic. The series is slightly confusing for collectors. It was originally published as the Aussie Pony Tales series with the names of both stories in the titles. The series was later reprinted in the UK and re-marketed with a new series name. The book titles were shortened and made more snappy.

1) THE BEST DAY & SLEEPY LIZARD
aka MAGIC AND THE BEST DAY (UK edition)
(ABC BOOKS [AUSTRALIA] 2003)
(1st UK edition CATNIP 2007)
Reprinted in the UK by Catnip in 2007 and re-titled.
SUMMARY: In the first story Jess is given a pony for her seventh birthday! In the second story, Jess strays into the bush with her pony when following a lizard and the pair becoming lost.

2) AFTER THE STORM & HELPING OUT
aka MAGIC HELPS OUT (UK edition)
(ABC BOOKS [AUSTRALIA] 2003)
(1st UK edition CATNIP 2007)
Reprinted in the UK by Catnip in 2007 and re-titled.
SUMMARY: In these two stories Jess and Magic learn to help out around the farm. In one tale, they help to move some of the sheep. In another, they are checking the fence for storm damage when Jess finds an abandoned baby bird.

3) BUSH PICNIC & A MAGIC MIXTURE
aka A MAGIC MIXTURE (UK edition)
(ABC BOOKS [AUSTRALIA] 2004)
(1st UK edition CATNIP 2007)
Reprinted in the UK by Catnip in 2007 and re-titled.
SUMMARY: There's trouble when Jess and Magic go on a picnic.

4) MAGIC GOES TO SCHOOL & THE NEW MOON
aka MAGIC GOES TO SCHOOL (UK edition)
(ABC BOOKS [AUSTRALIA] 2004)
(1st UK edition CATNIP 2007)
Reprinted in the UK by Catnip in 2007 and re-titled
SUMMARY: In one story Jess must ride Magic to school when the car has a flat tyre. In the other tale, Jess and Magic need to ride for help when Mum's new baby is on the way!

Other Editions:

YOU'LL WISH YOU HAD A PONY LIKE MAGIC!
(A PONY CALLED MAGIC OMNIBUS)
(CATNIP 2008)
SUMMARY: Omnibus edition containing the full series.

Collector's Info:
The books are all still in print and are easy to find in the UK, and presumably in Australia, although they are harder to get hold of in America. The bumper omnibus edition may prove the best value as it contains the full series. There was also an audio version of the full series, but it seems quite elusive to buy but is available from some libraries which offer a digital (e-book and audio) borrowing service.