Meindert DeJong (1906-1991)

Award winning American author of children's novels. Born in the Netherlands but emigrated to the USA with his family when a teenager, where he became an American citizen. After a series of  disparate jobs, DeJong began writing in the 1930s and had his first book published in 1938. Many of his books were animal stories and he won the Newbery Medal in 1955 for The Wheel on the School, with several of his other novels being Newbery Honor books. In 1962 he won the prestigious Hans Christian Anderson Award for his contribution to children's literature.

Two of his children's books feature horses, although I am not sure if he had any connection with them in real life.

His surname is variously spelt De Jong or de Jong as well as DeJong, but the latter is used most often by booksellers, so is preferable to use in a book search.

Horse & Pony Books:

THE SINGING HILL
(HARPER & ROW [USA] 1962)
(1st UK edition LUTTERWORTH 1963)
ILLUSTRATED BY MAURICE SENDACK
Published in the UK by Lutterworth in 1963.
SUMMARY: Without his brother and sister, who are away at school, Ray is lonely. Then he discovers an old abandoned horse as seemingly friendless as himself.

A HORSE CAME RUNNING
(MACMILLAN [USA] 1970)
(1st UK edition LUTTERWORTH 1970)
ILLUSTRATED BY PAUL SAGSOORIAN
Reprinted in paperback by Macmillan/Collier
Published in the UK in hardback by Lutterworth in 1970
Reprinted in the UK in hardback by Lutterworth a couple of times
Also an Australian edition.
SUMMARY: Pony related adventure. When a tornado strikes, Mark gets separated from his family when trying to find the old family horse and help another injured horse. He must cope with not only the two animals but a neighbour who has been hurt and looters.

Collector's Info:
Both very easy to find in the USA. Both books were also published in the UK and, although not as common as in America, are not terribly hard to find here. Also a few copies to be had in Australia.