Shetland in the Shed

Animal Ark [GB Order] #22

by Ben M. Baglio (Creator), Helen Magee (Ghostwriter), Jenny Gregory (Illustrator)

All animals and animal lovers are welcome at the Animal Ark Veterinary Clinic.

At Animal Ark, Mandy Hope helps her parents treat animals of all shapes and sizes. Even outside the clinic, Mandy can't resist helping any animal in need.

The Hope family takes in Polly, a friend's daughter, when her father goes into the hospital. Polly's new Shetland pony comes, too. The pony is beautiful and gentle, but Polly refuses to have anything to do with it. She's afraid of horses, even though she's been around them their entire life.

Can Mandy and James help Polly learn how to love her pony?

Genres: Animals, Childrens, Horses, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Juvenile

130 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1997

About the author

Ben M. Baglio created the brief for two series of children's books - Dolphin Diaries and Animal Ark. Dolphin Diaries features a girl and her family from Florida, who travel around the world as marine biologists and study dolphins. Animal Ark features two children who work together to help animals and solve animal-related mysteries. The books were written by commissioned writers in the UK under Baglio's instruction using the pseudonym Lucy Daniels. Each ghostwriter is named with a 'Special Thanks' on the copyright page.

Using his real name he also wrote the book series The Pet Finders Club, featuring a group of three children who search for peoples lost pets.

Reviews

[Westcoast_girl · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Shetland in the Shed, Mandy's family must take care of a little girl named Polly.
However, after Polly's mother died in a terrible horse riding accident, Polly has become terrified of horses. Even an adorable little Shetland pony.
Mandy must slowly help Polly overcome her fear of horses.

This book is an empowering story of how kids (and anyone) can overcome their fears.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I accidentally bought both the American and UK editions of this book. Comparing the two has been eye-opening. There were not only changes in punctuation, spellings and vocabulary, but Ernie Bell's cat Tiddles had her name changed to Twinkie in the American edition. The margins are also much smaller in the American editions, making the books shorter. The English edition ends with a letter supposedly from Lucy Daniels, which was really taking the mickey, since there was no Lucy Daniels.

It was reading this book that made me first realize that Mandy's three rabbits had disappeared without any explanation. The little bratty girl Polly mentions that she loves rabbits -- which would've been a perfect time for Mandy to bring out her rabbits. But they disappeared about book 14. The writer of this book was Helen Magee, one of the original group of ghostwriters. She had written previous Animal Ark books about Mandy and her rabbits.

The American edition cover keeps on with the tradition of making the cover animals the wrong color. The UK edition got it right, picturing Shona the Shetland pony as more of a cream color than solid red chestnut. The text gives her the very unhelpful description of "tan", which is not a proper horse or pony color name. There are several colors that fall under "tan", including chestnut, pale palomino (some have darker manes and tails than the usual white or cream), dun, and dunalino (look it up). I'm sure I'm missing others.

By now, Jenny Gregory took over as the series illustrator -- but, unfortunately, she wasn't very good at either dogs or ponies. She especially seems to have trouble figuring out how large Blackie should be. I was glad when Ann Baum took over.

Magee did a bit of a nod to Black Beauty when Shona does the same thing Beauty does -- refusing to cross a bridge that's damaged, although doesn't appear damaged at first. Getting Polly to appreciate her new pet would wind up being a theme done to death in later books.

There is a B plot of Welford having a pagent under the direction of Mrs Ponsonby. It was rather nonsensical and added zilch to the main plot.

This is not a good book to read without reading at least a few of the previous books. People and pets from other books make appearances. At the very least, you need to read Pony in the Porch (titled in America Pony on the Porch) and Cub in the Cupboard.

[Lianna Kendig · Rating 4 out of 5]

(LL)
Another solid story. I liked that they focused on kids with a fear of animals (here about a pony), as it happens quite a lot and they handled it well.

[November Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and light

[Lilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mandy and James help out a shetland pony who needs help. Her kid does not like her. Can Mandy and James help the shetland's owner love her own pony?

I love the animal ark series so much! I have read 5 of the books so far and loved all of them. I am currently reading "Raccoons On The Roof" witch I also love so far.

[Martin Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mandy,a young girl,and her family own a veterinary clinic named Animal Mark. Mandy Hope helps her parents with all kinds of animals but mainly farm animals such as,horses,pigs,etc.If Mandy sees an abandoned animal outside of the animal clinic she wants to pick it up and help the animal in any kind of way. The family takes care of Polly and the Shetland pony too. The pony is beautiful and gentle, but Polly refuses to accept him. She is a afraid of them ever since her mom died from a horse accident. Even tough she has been around horses all her life, she still doesn't accept him. Mandy and her dad try to help her overcome her fear of horses.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

the first lucy daniels and animal ark book i read and loved and always have loved it, also one of the first actual books i read (that wasnt fairy tales lol). i basically grow up reading this book over and over again really. love it sooo much xxxx

[Twyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

polly didn't like ponies then one day she started to like them then she rode one one day she went riding all by herself her pony new the bridge was going to break so she stopped her
auryn 7 years

[Cws]

JEAR3-Bag

[Rachel (Sfogs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute story!

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mandy helps Polly overcome her fear of horses.

[Rea]

I really enjoyed this whole series as a child. Back then I'd devour each of the books as soon as I could get my hands on them.

[Sammy]

I was completely obsessed with this series of books when I was a child and my aim was to read every single book. They are a really good children's series.

[Sammy]

I was completely obsessed with this series of books when I was a child and my aim was to read every single book. They are a really good children's series.

[A.g · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how Mandy gently made Polly overcome her fear for horses.

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book.