Good Luck to the Rider

1953 children's book
Good Luck to the Rider
First edition
AuthorJoan Phipson
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
GenreChildren's fiction
PublisherAngus and Robertson
Publication date
1953
Media typePrint
Pages149pp
Followed bySix and Silver 

Good Luck to the Rider (1953) is the first children's book by Australian author Joan Phipson; it was illustrated by Margaret Horder. It was joint winner of the Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers in 1953.[1]

Story outline

Barbara Trevor is the youngest of four children living on their parents' farm in country Australia. Barbara has acquired a horse, which she calls Rosinante, though she doesn't know the origin of the name. The book follows her attempts to school her horse and come to terms with her own life.

Critical reception

In a survey of children's books to signal the commencement of Children's Book Week in 1953 a reviewer in The Sunday Herald (Sydney) stated: "Australian country life is well described in a wholesome story. All the characters ring true. The Trevors are an unaffected family. Their homestead is typical of many in this broad land, and the four children act and live like normal children...There are no contrived adventures; it is a natural, easy flowing story which will entertain and absorb the attention of its readers. Margaret Horder's illustrations have caught the spirit of the book, and particularly of Rosinante."[2] Kirkus Reviews praised the author's handling of the material: "When uncertain girl meets unwanted horse, it's bound to be love at first sight, confidence in the last chapter, but with Joan Phipson putting the familiar plot through its paces almost every moment counts".[3]

Awards

  • 1953 - winner Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers

See also

  • 1953 in Australian literature

References

  1. ^ "For the Young Reader", The Age, 5 December 1953, p21
  2. ^ "Judges Select Books of the Year for Children", The Sunday Herald, 9 August 1953, p13
  3. ^ Review of Good Luck to the Rider in Kirkus Review
  • v
  • t
  • e
Children's Book of the Year Award for Older Readers
1946–1949
1950–1959
1960–19691970–1979
1980–1989
1990–1999
2000–2009
2010–2019
2020–present
  • This is How We Change the Ending by Vikki Wakefield (2020)
  • The End of the World Is Bigger than Love by Davina Bell (2021)
  • Tiger Daughter by Rebecca Lim (2022)
  • Neverlanders by Tom Taylor (2023)
  • Picture Book (1955–present)
  • Early Childhood (2001–present)
  • Younger Readers (1982–present)
  • Eve Pownall Award for Information Books (1988–present)