Lois Szymanski

Follow a wild pony colt through rhyming verse and coastal landscapes on Assateague Island. Journey into the coastal wetlands of Assateague Island with this beautifully illustrated picture book that introduces young readers to the life of a wild pony colt. Told in gentle, rhyming verse and brought to life with luminous oil paintings, the story follows the colt as he moves with his herd through long summer days—running along the ocean, splashing at the waterhole, and sharing space with turtles, deer, and other wildlife. The narrative traces the colt’s early life in his natural habitat through the famed Pony Penning and auction on Chincoteague Island, offering a thoughtful, age-appropriate introduction to this unique tradition. This expanded edition includes educational resources such as a wildlife identification guide, discussion questions, and wetlands facts, making it ideal for classrooms as well as family read-aloud and bedtime reading.

This expanded second edition includes everything you ever wanted to know about the iconic Chincoteague Ponies and Chincoteague’s annual Pony Penning. For generations, the ponies of Chincoteague, Virginia, have enchanted hearts and sparked imaginations. Made famous by the beloved Misty, these remarkable ponies live wild on Assateague Island. Each summer during the iconic Pony Penning celebration, the ponies swim to Chincoteague, come out of the bay, and parade to the carnival grounds, where foals are auctioned off to adoring pony enthusiasts. In this updated and expanded second edition, Out of the Sea dives deeper into the world of Chincoteague Ponies, with: • Heartwarming new stories of how these ponies are touching lives everywhere • Updated photographs that bring their beauty and spirit to life • Insider tips on experiencing Pony Penning and its unforgettable festivities • Insights into the evolution of the breed and how Chincoteague Ponies have become stars in the equestrian world • Dramatic rescue tales and the story of how Chincoteague Ponies helped combat a dangerous disease • Details on the people and organizations working tirelessly to preserve and support the breed Packed with rich history, personal anecdotes, and expert advice, Out of the Sea is the ultimate tribute to these extraordinary ponies and the people who love them. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or a newcomer, this book offers everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the Chincoteague Ponies. Check out all of Schiffer Publishing's Chincoteague Pony books by Lois Szymanski: Out of the Sea: Today's Chincoteague Pony, 2nd Edition (978-0-7643-6970-4) Chincoteague Ponies: Untold Tails (978-0-7643-4085-7) Surfer Dude: The Legendary Stallion of Chincoteague (978-0-7643-5366-6) Wild Colt (978-0-7643-3975-2) The True Story of Miracle Man (978-0-7643-4420-6) The True Story of Sea Feather (978-0-7643-3609-6) The True Story of Quintilius (978-0-7643-4709-2)

How could Matt have guessed that the summer he thought would be the loneliest of his life would turn out to be the most exciting? After his dad passes, Matt's mom sends him to stay with his aunt on Chincoteague Island, where his worries begin to melt away. Soon, he is in business with a new friend and saving money to rescue a wild pony foal. From the moment he watched the foal be born he knew that he and the patchy colt would share a special bond, one that would never be broken. - 3rd grade reading level

The Chincoteague Pony Tales series continues with even more short, inspirational tales about the Chincoteague Ponies we love Read the story of Birdie, a newborn foal and the amazing team of pony-lovers who came together to reunite her with her mama. Find out how three special Chincoteague Ponies born on the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge were destined to live out their lives on another island, many miles away. Learn how an amazing team of doctors, researchers, firemen and other volunteers came together to conquer Pythiosis - the deadly disease known as Swamp Cancer. These stories and more will inspire you and make you fall even more in love with Chincoteague Ponies

CHINCOTEAGUE PONY TALES: Volume IV Be inspired by Chincoteague Ponies in this fourth book of pony tales by author, Lois Szymanski. You'll find true stories about the feral ponies who live on the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, and more stories about those who have gone home to live off the island. Hear about the Lemonade Stand Pony - how one child made her dream come true by selling lemonade by the gallons... enough to buy a foal of her own. Fall in love with a tiny premature filly found on the island alone. Friends who cared, her will to live, and one special family all became the recipe that spelled success. Get to know Darcy Cole, the cancer survivor who has become a loving lookout for the feral ponies we love. When an Assateague Pony on the Maryland side is hit by a car, what will become of her foal? Maryland and Virginia work together to assure this filly finds a soft place to land. Help yourself to these and more stories about the ponies we love Also by Lois Szymanski: Surfer Dude Out of the Sea Wild Colt True Story of Sea Feather True Story of Miracle Man

When Tater Tot moved away Georgie McLittle's heart was broken. Lexi knew her sweet miniature horse needed a friend, but she also knew Mom and Dad would say NO if she asked for another horse. Then, something incredible happened. Learn how Georgie's new friend Hazel Marie finds her way home to live with Georgie McLittle, and learn more about miniature horses, too. This continues the tale that began in the first book, "Georgie McLittle, a Friend for Life."

CHINCOTEAGUE PONY TALES - Volume III Flowing manes and tails catch the wind and billow like rippling flags. It stops you in your tracks. From velvety mare muzzles to whiskery foal chins, everything about these graceful and glorious wild and free ponies makes us love them. In this, the third book in a series of "Chincoteague Pony Tales" by author Lois Szymanski, find more stories about the Chincoteague Ponies we love- stories from their time living wild and free on the island, and stories of the ponies who go home to new homes after Pony Penning. Read about the orphan foal, whose dam perished in the mud, and how he rode in a boat after his rescue, going on to a new and productive life as a therapy pony. Learn how a chance meeting along the highway turned into a lifelong friendship - just one example of how PFFs (Pony Friends Forever) can unfold. Fall in love with the two-year-old Chincoteague Pony who was part of a herd seized from a farm and from the jaws of neglect and abuse, only to find a new and loving forever home. Watch for heavenly signs alongside the saltwater cowboy whose lifelong dream of riding in a roundup comes true. Join others in falling in love with the Chincoteague Pony, again and again.

Readers asked for Volume Two of Chincoteague Pony Tales, and author, Lois Szymanski delivers in this book of inspirational tales about the wild Chincoteague Ponies who live on the Virginia side of Assateague Island. Owned and cared for by saltwater cowboys from the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, the ponies have captivated people around the globe, since the annual wild pony roundup and sale of foals began over 93 years ago.In Chincoteague Pony Tales - Vol. Two, Szymanski shares stories to inspire the reader. Hear about the orphan foal who was adopted by another mare. Nicknamed Mystery Man, he went on to make a child's pony dream come true. Read about the stallion who took one beating after another to protect a stallion in need. Find out why one foal, dubbed "Dunkaroo" should never have been born on an island surrounded by water. Story after story will keep the reader captivated, and leave them asking for

The discovery of a ghost at the Gettysburg Battlefield is just the beginning of many adventures for three young friends.Chucky, Zach, and Philip decide to plant a garden after Mr. Baxter tells them they can sell the produce in the Cavalry Ridge Campground General Store. If they save enough money they might be able to buy the dazzling new Swiss camping knife that has just come in. While digging in the garden plot, Chucky unearths an old relic. It looks like a coin, but it's not. The three friends pass around the piece of metal, rubbing off dirt and trying to read the inscription. Suddenly, the air grows cool and a shadow falls across the garden. The boys feel their skin begin to tingle, and a heaviness settles over them. The fuzzy, disjointed shape of a man begins to form before their eyes. What has Chucky dug up?

Born with unique coloring and a blue eye, a legendary stallion named Surfer Dude leaves his mark on the wild Chincoteague Pony herds of Assateague Island in this children's tale. The story of this beloved wild stallion, who cared for his herd of mares over a lifetime on Chincoteague Island, is beautifully illustrated in vivid detail, from his distinctive blue eye to his white star and stripe, silver mane and tail, and chocolatey chestnut coat. Destined for fame, Surfer Dude attracted fans from all over the US during his lifetime. Visitors to Chincoteague Island often looked for him as they crossed the bridge to Assateague Island and the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. His passing at the ripe age of twenty-three in the spring of 2015 touched people from across the United States and beyond. But the spirit of his gentle nature and the way he loved his foals lives on. This charming picture book featuring illustrations by Linda Kantjas tells a story of love and the circle of life. Check out all of Schiffer Publishing's Chincoteague Pony books by Lois Szymanski: Out of the Sea: Today's Chincoteague Pony, 2nd Edition (978-0-7643-6970-4) Chincoteague Ponies: Untold Tails (978-0-7643-4085-7) Surfer Dude: The Legendary Stallion of Chincoteague (978-0-7643-5366-6) Wild Colt (978-0-7643-3975-2) The True Story of Miracle Man (978-0-7643-4420-6) The True Story of Sea Feather (978-0-7643-3609-6) The True Story of Quintilius (978-0-7643-4709-2)

You've just purchased your first Chincoteague Pony foal, or maybe you are considering raising your hand to bid at the annual Pony Penning Auction, held on Thursday of the last week of July each year on Chincoteague Island, Virginia. If you're looking for a resource to guide you on the exciting journey you have ahead - raising your wild pony foal - look no further. "Your Chincoteague Pony Foal's First Year" offers sound advice on hauling, stalls, bedding, veterinarian care, hoof care, insect control, training for basic ground manners, dealing with vices and more. Learn how to desensitize your foal so he matures into a bombproof riding pony. It will be many years until you can ride your new foal. Put in the steps during that time to teach him how to lead, back up, load on a trailer. You can even teach him some tricks, and a few are outlined in the later chapters of "Your Chincoteague Pony Foal's First Year." This is your first year guide. Let the journey begin!

Learn specific details about additional members of the herd of wild Chincoteague Ponies on Assateague Island by collecting and trading this second set in the popular series of Chincoteague Pony trading cards. As with the previous set, each card shows both sides of the pony for identification purposes. Every pony has a name, a story, and a look of his or her own. Come to know Sonny's Legacy, a chestnut pinto mare who was returned to the island by the Chincoteague Fire Company, which protects the island ponies, to live out her life in honor of fireman Sonny Haigh. Meet Little Dolphin, the stallion raffled off but donated back to the island. In all there are 70 ponies for you to meet. Absorb the personal information of each pony and when you visit the island, take along both sets of cards so you can identify the many ponies in person.

This chapter book for ages 7 to 10 explores the annual Pony Penning celebration on Chincoteague Island through the story of a young girl who works hard to buy a foal—and keeps her faith when faced with challenges. The newborn foal peered at Caroline from her computer screen. The online photo grabbed her heart. It was followed by photo after photo of the foal frolicking, rubbing noses with his momma, and nursing in the quiet of evening. This was the foal she knew she had to buy! Caroline had worked hard and saved all her money to buy a wild Chincoteague Pony foal and now she had fallen in love with the right one. She’d even named him "Quintilius" for the star that shone over the baby Jesus in the manger long ago. When it's finally time for Chincoteague Island's annual Pony Penning celebration, Caroline ventures to the island and volunteers for The Feather Fund (a group that helps deserving children buy ponies of their own) and helps tag foals with the saltwater cowboys. But, after all her hard work, she finds that the saltwater cowboys had labeled her foal—her Quintilus—for return to the island. Caroline couldn’t even consider of taking home another foal—she'd poured herself into saving enough money and now it seemed the chestnut pinto colt would be forever out of her life. How could things be turned around for Caroline so that she could bring her foal home? Or would she lose her dream forever? This inspiring chapter book for ages 7 to 10 and horse and pony lovers of all ages shares the story of a girl who perseveres to achieve her goal—and her foal! Check out all of Schiffer Publishing's Chincoteague Pony books by Lois Szymanski: Out of the Sea: Today's Chincoteague Pony, 2nd Edition (978-0-7643-6970-4) Chincoteague Ponies: Untold Tails (978-0-7643-4085-7) Surfer Dude: The Legendary Stallion of Chincoteague (978-0-7643-5366-6) Wild Colt (978-0-7643-3975-2) The True Story of Miracle Man (978-0-7643-4420-6) The True Story of Sea Feather (978-0-7643-3609-6) The True Story of Quintilius (978-0-7643-4709-2)

This chapter book tells story of heroic efforts taken to save an orphaned colt on Assateague Island who went on to become a famous Chincoteague Pony herd sire. Visitors to the Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge often stopped to admire the majestic and powerful Chincoteague Pony stallion known as Miracle Man (1995–2013). But this island favorite wasn’t always a dominant herd sire. Here’s the story of the orphaned foal found near death on Assateague Island and Cynthia, the little girl whose faith and dedication helps him survive after her father rescues him from Black Duck Marsh. Cynthia's determination to save the tiny pinto colt begins the moment he is brought to their island farm. She spends every day in the barn, giving him his medicines, bathing his injuries, and wrapping his leg. She takes him on long walks along the bay and ruffles his spiky mane, and each time there is a setback Cynthia aches for the foal. But, no matter what they do, the colt’s leg will not heal. Finally, the vet suggests they throw away all the medicine and let nature take its course. Cynthia is afraid. How will the little colt survive? This chapter book for ages 7 to 10 shares a heartwarming tale for pony lovers of all ages.

Learn specific details about the wild Chincoteague Ponies on Assateague Island with Chincoteague Pony Identification Cards. Take these 75 cards with you when you visit the island to identify the ponies in person. Each card features photos of both sides of the pony for identification purposes as well as the pony’s name, gender, birth year, and a brief description. Get to know Noah’s Shadow, the mare purchased for a Make-A-Wish child named Noah; or ET, the mare named for the marking on her side that looks like the finger of a famous extraterrestrial; or Miracle Man, the orphan colt who was saved and grew up to become a herd sire. Complete with a legend of key pony terms, these collectible and informative cards are a great, and fun, resource for Chincoteague pony enthusiasts of all ages. And look for cards for the rest of the herd soon! All ages.