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Serendipity
Morgan and Me, Weekly Reader Books
A magical story of a little princess who wants and needs to do everything "just a little bit later." Everything is put off until later -- until she meets Morgan the unicorn.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1975
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 11, 2025
I think this was the very first Morgan the Unicorn book. He's not with other unicorns or horses, which would be explained in later books. In comparison with the later books, particularly Morgan and Yew, the story suffers a bit. However, when I was a kid and first read it, I found it nicely unpredictable. And I loved the thought of a princess wearing sneakers.
Unlike most other Serendipity books, this was not published with a moral in the form of a four-lined poem. The original 1975 edition had no moral whatsoever. One, a variation of the Golden Rule, would be added to the covers of the later editions.
Stephen Cosgrove dedicated this book to illustrator Robin James and her horse Morgan. Unfortunately, James died in March of 2024. Her obituary noted that her two most favorite animals to draw were Greyhounds and horses. Her equines (and sheep) were the real standouts in the Serendipity series. She didn't make them overly cute. As a kid, I'd never thought of a draft-type unicorn, so was utterly knocked out by how gorgeous Morgan was. I had all the Morgan unicorn books as a kid. In some ways, Morgan ruined me for other artistic representations of unicorns. Although I don't mind very much.
Unlike most other Serendipity books, this was not published with a moral in the form of a four-lined poem. The original 1975 edition had no moral whatsoever. One, a variation of the Golden Rule, would be added to the covers of the later editions.
Stephen Cosgrove dedicated this book to illustrator Robin James and her horse Morgan. Unfortunately, James died in March of 2024. Her obituary noted that her two most favorite animals to draw were Greyhounds and horses. Her equines (and sheep) were the real standouts in the Serendipity series. She didn't make them overly cute. As a kid, I'd never thought of a draft-type unicorn, so was utterly knocked out by how gorgeous Morgan was. I had all the Morgan unicorn books as a kid. In some ways, Morgan ruined me for other artistic representations of unicorns. Although I don't mind very much.
March 22, 2011
I loved this one when I was little.
The original version, not the later edition Morgan and Me (reissue) that was compelled to...
display the moral of the story in a little framed box on the cover, because children are too stupid to glean meaning from the actual story,
use the repetitive phrase "Oh, poof! Oh, piffle!" because it was cute???,
and change the ending to
"THIS STORY IS TRUE,
THOUGH TWISTED OF COURSE,
ROBIN IRENE IS AN ARTIST,
AND MORGAN IS A HORSE."
because children won't understand the difference between fantasy and reality unless it's explicitly spelled out.
I'm going to have to give this new version away, or burn it; I can't read it to my daughter.
The original version, not the later edition Morgan and Me (reissue) that was compelled to...
display the moral of the story in a little framed box on the cover, because children are too stupid to glean meaning from the actual story,
use the repetitive phrase "Oh, poof! Oh, piffle!" because it was cute???,
and change the ending to
"THIS STORY IS TRUE,
THOUGH TWISTED OF COURSE,
ROBIN IRENE IS AN ARTIST,
AND MORGAN IS A HORSE."
because children won't understand the difference between fantasy and reality unless it's explicitly spelled out.
I'm going to have to give this new version away, or burn it; I can't read it to my daughter.
June 24, 2012
I really loved this wonderful story as a child. The older version, not the version with the "newly revised text." It was much better before they printed the "moral" on the cover.
If your copy contains the phrase "Oh, poof! Oh, piffle!" it's the wrong edition.
If your copy contains the phrase "Oh, poof! Oh, piffle!" it's the wrong edition.
January 6, 2020
I LOVE the Serendipity books. So when I come across them I read them to my children.
August 23, 2017
What little girl doesn't love love a Unicorn and Princess story right before bed. The art work in this book is very epic and and the story teaches them its sometimes best to not put things off just because you have something more fun to do.
April 9, 2022
Not sure this is the most interesting book for kids. Its a little wordy and I don't know if the attention span is there. Little girls who like to pretend they are princesses might enjoy this book and hopefully learn when they are acting spoiled.
April 10, 2019
I wish there were more books like this. Books that gently teach a lesson. This little girl learns to stop putting off what needs to be done.
September 24, 2019
Don't procrastinate. That's all
February 20, 2020
Serendipity make great children's books. This one in particular is great for unicorn fans. The illustrations are terrific.
September 9, 2021
This is part of a series from the ‘70s (Serendipity). Colorful pictures and a little lesson in each story. About one paragraph a page alongside a full page picture.
February 8, 2024
A sweetly enchanting Juvenile Fiction perfect for young readers. This book reminds the reader the wisdom of "Not putting off until tomorrow what should be done today."
August 3, 2024
someone send this to my sister
April 19, 2025
Morgan sassy AF.
August 8, 2025
made me think of my daughter and her boyfriend 😅
May 28, 2016
I didn't even know there was a second edition/version of this, though it seems to make folks rather unhappy.
As Serendipity books go, this wasn't one of the best. That's a shame, because I'm totally on board for a princess and a unicorn and even the lesson to be helpful now rather than later. I wasn't quite sure what this was getting at, though; it seemed to try and do both morals of "don't procrastinate" and "do unto others" and those don't fit well to me. I mean, I understand the story, but it just felt clunky to have that pairing (and how is saving a unicorn wasting away in a tree at all analogous to cleaning your room? One may result in illness and death. The other will simply result in grumpy parents--unless you had way different stuff in your room than I did in mine as a kid).
I also was thrown by the ending in which it seemed that the princess was, in fact, a regular kid dreaming herself into the whole setting of the story. That's fine, but that's out of character for the Serendipity books (that I've read) because they're all set in this sort of mythical Other place. Making it "real" (in the sense of recognizably modern) just made the whole thing feel much more like finger-wagging, which these usually don't.
As Serendipity books go, this wasn't one of the best. That's a shame, because I'm totally on board for a princess and a unicorn and even the lesson to be helpful now rather than later. I wasn't quite sure what this was getting at, though; it seemed to try and do both morals of "don't procrastinate" and "do unto others" and those don't fit well to me. I mean, I understand the story, but it just felt clunky to have that pairing (and how is saving a unicorn wasting away in a tree at all analogous to cleaning your room? One may result in illness and death. The other will simply result in grumpy parents--unless you had way different stuff in your room than I did in mine as a kid).
I also was thrown by the ending in which it seemed that the princess was, in fact, a regular kid dreaming herself into the whole setting of the story. That's fine, but that's out of character for the Serendipity books (that I've read) because they're all set in this sort of mythical Other place. Making it "real" (in the sense of recognizably modern) just made the whole thing feel much more like finger-wagging, which these usually don't.
February 23, 2017
As always, gorgeous art. The 3 stars is due to the fact that the princess is kind of a turd.
November 22, 2016
Basic Plot: A princess finds a unicorn trapped in a tree, but never does what she should until later...
As a chronic procrastinator, this story speaks to me. A little girl, daydreaming about fantasy worlds, putting off the necessities until later... I completely get this as an adult, and it's a great lesson to address with kids, too. It's also a gentle lesson, not overly preachy or harsh.
The art in this book series is truly stunning. I could sit and look at the pictures alone for hours. As a child, I know I did.
As a chronic procrastinator, this story speaks to me. A little girl, daydreaming about fantasy worlds, putting off the necessities until later... I completely get this as an adult, and it's a great lesson to address with kids, too. It's also a gentle lesson, not overly preachy or harsh.
The art in this book series is truly stunning. I could sit and look at the pictures alone for hours. As a child, I know I did.
April 29, 2012
This part of the Morgan books in the Serendipity series chronicles how Morgan met her friend the Princess. The Princess has a bad habit of saying she'll do things "just a little later". When she suddenly needs her friend Morgan, she learns a valuable lesson about the timeliness of action and friendship.
A cute book with a lesson that even young children can grasp about the importance of fulfilling promises and not putting off friends.
A cute book with a lesson that even young children can grasp about the importance of fulfilling promises and not putting off friends.
July 3, 2017
Cute story that shows you should treat others how you want to be treated and to do what is promised promptly instead of waiting on your time. I thought it was cute how Morgan threatened the princess with leaving her on a lily pad.
This story had cute pictures while ending with the two as best friends. Wasn't much into the plot, which seemed rather slow and shuffling along. Definitely a good read for younger children.
This story had cute pictures while ending with the two as best friends. Wasn't much into the plot, which seemed rather slow and shuffling along. Definitely a good read for younger children.
July 27, 2017
Serendipity books all have little lessons in them, some are better than others. This is on the better side, with a lesson on procrastination. A princess gets a taste of her own medicine, when after she promises to free a unicorn tangled in a tree, but waits to do it until later. As she says, "I'm sorry for always living in the Land of Later... I promise to do what should be done now, instead of 'just a little later'."
August 11, 2010
I learned how to read and my love of fantasy stemmed from this and the other Serendipity books. I think this book actually made my mom crazy because I read it constantly and always asked her to read it to me and it started my still not dead obsession with unicorns. =]
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December 10, 2013Little princesses and unicorns, adventures and life lessons. This fantasy story has a nice message, treat your friends the same way you would like them to treat you. When my daughter was younger she read this book many times, she liked horses. AR gives it a 4.3 rating
January 27, 2016
This series of books is the most wonderfully illustrated, sweetest series available for children. Each book is beautiful, the animals are so sweetly drawn and each book teaches a wonderful lesson. I still have all of my original copies from my childhood (the 90s).
April 23, 2008
Good for little girls who like fairy tales and unicorns (that wasn't me.)
January 31, 2014
early reading source for children, to learn about friendship
August 11, 2011
Beautiful art~ this illustrator was one of my first artistic idols as a child. It's perfect <3.
September 9, 2014
A beautiful story with fittingly lovely pictures, every little kid will be thrilled with this book.
April 19, 2016
this was my favorite book when i was a kid. i literally read it so much it fell apart.
August 25, 2016
Recently revisited a bunch of these dear lovely Serendipity books, which were a huge influence on my early childhood. Morgan & Me was always my favorite :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews