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Paddywack
Paddywack is a petite nine hands high, and every pony inch is packed full of spunk. It hasn’t been easy, but he now has his rider, Jane, well trained. He’ll trot. He’ll canter. He’ll jump the jumps. He’s a perfect pony . . . when she gives him treats. But on the day of the big horse show, Jane is so nervous she forgets his treats. Will Paddywack dig in his hooves? Or can he rise to the occasion?
This sweet story is sure to capture young horse-lovers’ hearts.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
This sweet story is sure to capture young horse-lovers’ hearts.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
48 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2010
28 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Spinner
54 books32 followersI was born in Davenport, Iowa, and grew up in Rockaway Beach, New York. I read straight through my childhood, with breaks for food, sleep, and the bathroom. I went to college in Bennington, Vermont, moved to New York City, and took a job in publishing so I could get paid for reading. I read so much bad fiction that I needed a break, so I moved to London, and from there I traveled to Morocco, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan India, Nepal, and Ceylon. I came back to America, wandered around some more -- to Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize -- and on returning to New York decided to study Tibetan Buddhist painting (called thangka painting) in Boulder, Colorado.
I painted thangkas for many years. Each one took anywhere from several weeks to a few months to complete, and at long last I understood that this was not the ideal way for me to make a living. Only a few hundred Americans collected thangkas, and they wanted old ones, painted by Tibetan monks. It was time to make a change.
So I took another publishing job, this time in children’s books. I found that I liked children’s books a lot, and before long, I became an editor.
Years passed. I was encouraged to write. I scoffed at the idea that I had anything to write about. I edited some wonderfully talented authors -- Virginia Hamilton, Philip Isaacson, Clyde Robert Bulla, Gloria Whelan, Robin McKinley, Joan Vinge, Garth Nix, and Chris Lynch, among others -- with great enjoyment. Writing seemed like torture by comparison.
Then, to my amazement, I found myself writing a book and having a good time -- simultaneously! The book was ALIENS FOR BREAKFAST, and I enjoyed writing it because my co-author was Jonathan Etra. Jon (who died of heart disease in 1990) was a close friend with a wild sense of humor, and collaborating with him changed my opinion of writing forever. After ALIENS FOR BREAKFAST, and ALIENS FOR LUNCH, which we also co-wrote, I began to think that writing could be interesting fun.
And now that I’ve been doing it full-time for more than ten years, I can tell you why I like it better than a job. First, I can work in my bathrobe. (To the FedEx man and the UPS man, I am "the woman in the plaid flannel robe.") Second, I can eat when I’m hungry, choose when to take phone calls, and walk my dogs any time. Third, the only meetings I have -- and they’re short -- are with the dry cleaner and the post office ladies. Fourth, I can read whatever I please. I may tell people I’m doing research when I read about horse-trekking, or hunting in ancient Greece, or 16 ways to better compost, but the truth is, I’m not doing research, I’m having a good time. Which I think is still allowed.
I painted thangkas for many years. Each one took anywhere from several weeks to a few months to complete, and at long last I understood that this was not the ideal way for me to make a living. Only a few hundred Americans collected thangkas, and they wanted old ones, painted by Tibetan monks. It was time to make a change.
So I took another publishing job, this time in children’s books. I found that I liked children’s books a lot, and before long, I became an editor.
Years passed. I was encouraged to write. I scoffed at the idea that I had anything to write about. I edited some wonderfully talented authors -- Virginia Hamilton, Philip Isaacson, Clyde Robert Bulla, Gloria Whelan, Robin McKinley, Joan Vinge, Garth Nix, and Chris Lynch, among others -- with great enjoyment. Writing seemed like torture by comparison.
Then, to my amazement, I found myself writing a book and having a good time -- simultaneously! The book was ALIENS FOR BREAKFAST, and I enjoyed writing it because my co-author was Jonathan Etra. Jon (who died of heart disease in 1990) was a close friend with a wild sense of humor, and collaborating with him changed my opinion of writing forever. After ALIENS FOR BREAKFAST, and ALIENS FOR LUNCH, which we also co-wrote, I began to think that writing could be interesting fun.
And now that I’ve been doing it full-time for more than ten years, I can tell you why I like it better than a job. First, I can work in my bathrobe. (To the FedEx man and the UPS man, I am "the woman in the plaid flannel robe.") Second, I can eat when I’m hungry, choose when to take phone calls, and walk my dogs any time. Third, the only meetings I have -- and they’re short -- are with the dry cleaner and the post office ladies. Fourth, I can read whatever I please. I may tell people I’m doing research when I read about horse-trekking, or hunting in ancient Greece, or 16 ways to better compost, but the truth is, I’m not doing research, I’m having a good time. Which I think is still allowed.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 28, 2025
Now, this is how to write a book for beginning readers. It's not super-sweet. It has some layers to it that can be appreciated by adults. Despite being narrated by the pony, Paddywack the pony acts like a pony and not a four-legged human.
The full-color illustrations by Daniel Howarth were reasonably good. They weren't too realistic, nor too abstract. They hinted at reality. Some illustrations had little hidden extras, like a small ladybug/ladybird on a stall door.
However, one illustration of a ribbon awarding ceremony at a horse show was clearly uncompleted. One pony lacked a bridle, eyes and nostrils. Ruined an otherwise fine illustration.
Howarth also clearly didn't know much about ponies. His idea of a braided mane and tail are laughable at best. Also, no beginning child rider would be given a double bridle to deal with. One set of reins is difficult enough to manage, let alone two.
The full-color illustrations by Daniel Howarth were reasonably good. They weren't too realistic, nor too abstract. They hinted at reality. Some illustrations had little hidden extras, like a small ladybug/ladybird on a stall door.
However, one illustration of a ribbon awarding ceremony at a horse show was clearly uncompleted. One pony lacked a bridle, eyes and nostrils. Ruined an otherwise fine illustration.
Howarth also clearly didn't know much about ponies. His idea of a braided mane and tail are laughable at best. Also, no beginning child rider would be given a double bridle to deal with. One set of reins is difficult enough to manage, let alone two.
September 9, 2022
A cute beginner reader about a girl learning to work with her horse and discovering the secret to getting the horse to jump great: treats! This will be especially fun if the child has any riding experience.
October 5, 2024
Sweet beginning reader told from the perspective of a pony, who has much to teach his young human caretaker! I know I would have loved this book as a horse-obsessed kid. Models kind and patient treatment of a pet/show pony.
October 4, 2016
A wonderful reader for the young child who is also learning to tune in and connect with animals, especially if learning to horse back ride. Beautiful values of good heartedness woven in to the story.
Meaningful and sweet.
Meaningful and sweet.
April 24, 2012
This is a fun story about a little pony named Paddywack and a little girl named Jane who work together on their riding and jumping skills. We found this book through the online resources for our local library. I downloaded it and we read the ebook together. The colorful illustrations and narrative appear to be the same as the book and we enjoyed reading the story as we clicked through the pages. We've only borrowed a few ebooks from our library, but I'm getting used to the process and we enjoy the new format. It may never replace real books in my heart, but it's certainly neat to have this resource available, and it's free, too!
January 5, 2015
wonderful!
This was a delightful pony book for the children. I would recommend this story for any child. Also, it explains a little about ponies, jumping, trotting and walking in a contest.
This was a delightful pony book for the children. I would recommend this story for any child. Also, it explains a little about ponies, jumping, trotting and walking in a contest.
January 24, 2011
Recommended Ages: grades 2-3
Paddywack is a spunky pony who jumps, trots, and walks beautifully, as long as his rider remembers his treats.
Paddywack is a spunky pony who jumps, trots, and walks beautifully, as long as his rider remembers his treats.
May 14, 2012
It's not a great story, but kids will enjoy it...especially the illustrations.
February 26, 2013
This is a wonderful book for kids that love horses. Good confidence builder and wonderful pictures.
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October 28, 2014300L
Want to read
July 19, 2016RL 300
December 28, 2015
Cute read for my 1st grader
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews