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Blaze Series: Amazingly long-running (over 35 years!) and ever-popular series about a boy and his pony and the many adventures they share. Aimed at a younger readership, with the stories being fairly simplistic and usually adventure-orientated.
ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR
1) BILLY AND BLAZE: A BOY AND HIS PONY (MACMILLAN [USA] 1936) ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR Reprinted in hardback a number of times by original publisher. Reprinted in a hardback school edition by Perfection Learning/Turtleback. Reprinted in paperback, most recently by Aladdin. EDITION PICTURED: Macmillan hardback, Aladdin paperback. SUMMARY: Billy is overjoyed when he receives the chestnut pony Blaze for his birthday. He and Blaze soon become best friends. But is their partnership good enough to win the cup at the upcoming show? Read Review
2) BLAZE AND THE GYPSIES (MACMILLAN [USA] 1937) (1st UK edition COUNTRY LIFE 1939) ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR Reprinted in hardback a number of times by original publisher. Published in the UK by Country Life. EDITION PICTURED: Macmillan hardback SUMMARY: The plot shows that gypsies were cast as villains in US horse stories as well as UK ones! Blaze is stolen and must escape to find his way back to his beloved Billy.
3) BLAZE AND THE FOREST FIRE (MACMILLAN [USA] 1938) ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR Reprinted in hardback a number of times by original publisher. Reprinted in a hardback school edition by Perfection Learning/Turtleback. Reprinted in paperback, most recently by Aladdin. Still in print. EDITION PICTURED: Aladdin paperback. SUMMARY: When a fire strikes its up to Billy and Blaze to raise the alarm
4) BLAZE FINDS THE TRAIL (MACMILLAN [USA] 1950) ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR Reprinted in hardback a number of times by original publisher. Reprinted in paperback, most recently by Aladdin. Still in print. EDITION PICTURED: Macmillan hardback, Aladdin paperback. SUMMARY: Billy and Blaze get lost in the woods...and a storm is approaching!
5) BLAZE AND THUNDERBOLT (MACMILLAN [USA] 1955) ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR Reprinted in hardback a number of times by original publisher. Reprinted in a hardback school edition by Perfection Learning/Turtleback. Reprinted in paperback, most recently by Aladdin. Still in print. EDITION PICTURED: Aladdin paperback SUMMARY: When their new friend Jim is unable to tame the wild horse Thunderbolt, Billy and Blaze help. Fast and elusive, Thunderbolt is not easy to befriend. But with their kind and gentle approach, Billy and Blaze succeed where the other cowboys have failed
6) BLAZE AND THE MOUNTAIN LION (MACMILLAN [USA] 1959) ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR Reprinted in hardback a number of times by original publisher. Reprinted in a hardback school edition by Perfection Learning/Turtleback. Reprinted in paperback, most recently by Aladdin. Still in print. EDITION PICTURED: Macmillan hardback cicra 1960s, Aladdin paperback SUMMARY: Billy and Blaze must save a terrified calf from a mountain lion.
7) BLAZE AND THE INDIAN CAVE (MACMILLAN [USA] 1964) ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR Reprinted in hardback a number of times by original publisher. EDITION PICTURED: Macmillan hardback edition. SUMMARY: Blaze is stolen and Billy, sure he knows the culprit, sets off to find him.
8) BLAZE AND THE LOST QUARRY (MACMILLAN [USA] 1966) ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR Reprinted in hardback a number of times by original publisher. Reprinted in a hardback school edition by Perfection Learning/Turtleback. Reprinted in paperback, most recently by Aladdin. Still in print. EDITION PICTURED: Macmillan hardback, Aladdin paperback. SUMMARY: The pair find a lost quarry and another adventure awaits them there. They also make a new friend!
9) BLAZE AND THE GRAY SPOTTED PONY (MACMILLAN [USA] 1968) ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR Reprinted in hardback a number of times by original publisher. Reprinted in a hardback school edition by Perfection Learning/Turtleback. Reprinted in paperback, most recently by Aladdin. Still in print. EDITION PICTURED: Turtleback hardback edition. SUMMARY: Billy and Blaze are heroes to Tommy, the little boy who lives next door. Tommy loves horses, and someday, he hopes, will have a pony of his own: gray with spots, like the one he and Billy saw in a field. How lucky he is to have Billy teaching him how to ride and to feed and groom Blaze. One day Tommy does get his gray spotted pony and it is Blaze who finds him! Read Review
10) BLAZE SHOWS THE WAY (MACMILLAN [USA] 1969) ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR Reprinted in hardback a number of times by original publisher. Reprinted in a hardback school edition by Perfection Learning/Turtleback. Reprinted in paperback by Aladdin. Still in print. EDITION PICTURED: Macmillan hardback, Aladdin paperback. SUMMARY: Billy and Blaze and their friends Tommy and Dusty have fun riding together. After some schooling from Billy, Tommy and Dusty are soon good enough to enter the pairs riding competition with Billy and Blaze!
11) BLAZE FINDS FORGOTTEN ROADS (MACMILLAN [USA] 1970) ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR Reprinted in hardback a number of times by original publisher. EDITION PICTURED: Macmillan hardback. SUMMARY: Billy and Tommy find an old forgotten road when they are out exploring and are involved in an exciting adventure discovering old treasures. But after this excitement they find they are well and truly lost! Read Review
Collectors Info: Reprinted a number of times in the USA, first in hardback by the original publisher and Macmillan and by Perfection Learning/Turtleback as a school library edition. They were also published in paperback. As far as I can find out only one was published in the UK (Blaze and the Gypsies) although there possibly may be others. Many - but not all - of the books are still in print in paperback editions and can be bought new in both the USA and UK. The older editions are reasonably easy to find in the USA, but a lot harder in the UK. Some of these earlier editions are fairly expensive.
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