Morgan Morning

Serendipity

by Stephen Cosgrove, Robin James (Illustrator)

When the young horse, Morgan, is swept over a waterfall and breaks his leg, he is rescued by a magical unicorn, who changes Morgan into a unicorn.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Unicorns, Fiction, Fantasy, Animals, Horses

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Leisel · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a terrible book! I guess sad is not my thing-- but even then, the story makes no sense! The moral of the story is that you can become a unicorn, but you can't see your mommy ever again? What part of that helps a child learn anything? And really, what mother do you know that would just walk away from that waterfall? I don't think so. Whatever. I don't recommend this one.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am up on the air about this book but the first thing I want to say is that this book has some of the most beautiful Serendipity artwork. Robin does a great job in bring the spirited and young colt to life for you to view while the pictures of him as a unicorn are gorgeous.

This is definitely a book that I would recommend for older children, not younger, and the reason is since I am on the fence for this one as it is a sad one while also not making sense. The young colt ends up disobeying his mother after she told him not to and warned him that his curiosity will get him into trouble while it does so. Unable to save her son she turns around to walk away and the young colt ends up accepting his mother's decision while he isn't also able to help himself due to he injured himself on his misadventure.

In a Devil's bargain the young horse is given his life back but he must change who he is and in doing so also give up those he loves as he is banned into the world of dreams. Not wanting to die he takes in the decision while is healed and change then walks away as his mother watches on.

But as I sit here thinking whether this could be a good book or a bad book while reading the other reviews I find myself thinking it may be good but complicated. Even though she turns around and leaves her son to his fate the mother was still there to see his change....

And yet as I was explaining this to my sister the meaning of this book became very clear it is the loss of a child to conditions that cannot be helped - murder, medical conditions, natural causes, etc. We look upon the mother as turning her back on a child and yet she is there when he is changed.

What can a parent do when their hands are tied as they are watching their child silently suffer and die from cancer? When they fall victim to the beasts of the city that feed on young innocent souls? Or that are taken from the world at too early of a time? It is a beautiful story when taken into the perspective but also a painfully sad one.

In this case the book best fits the collection of "Frazzle", "Squabbles" and "Crickle-Crack". Best read when older or when the child is ready to talk about a subject that would otherwise be hard to approach.

[Lucinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Into this life, Morgan was born, to live, maybe die, as a Unicorn." Is their any better line? ^_^

[Naomi]

randomly remembered this book that I read like 12 years ago and how horrible and sad it was. Stephen Cosgrove I hope you know that I cried myself SICK reading this as a child

[Enrique Falcon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book as a child. I must have asked my mother to read it to me a hundred times and sobbed every time.

I just reread it as an adult and I probably would have cried again if not for the overwhelming curiosity of what in the actual fuck might be wrong with me. (Or my mother for that matter)

This story is a beautifully depicted and extremely vivid tragedy which basically threatens kids with a lonely, slow and painful death if they don’t listen to their mom. In a time where people are so sensitive that I’ll probably get shit for not saying “spoiler alert” before that sentence, I am forced to see this book as a literary means to orally spank children.

I longed to find this book. I remembered it so fondly. I know this is the book. I recognize the pictures the story all of it. Somehow over the years I had literally “lost the plot”. (So many puns!)

Anyways. You can find this online for free and it’s a good read. Might even explain a little bit about me. If you know me.

[Ikayuro · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't say I particularly enjoyed this one as much as I did the others. As other reviewers here have mentioned, a baby horse is punished for disobeying his mother in order to play. He falls from a waterfall, hitting rocks on the way down and ends up with a broken leg. His friends go back to tell the mother who looks at him and just... gives up on him.

He then proceeds to... wait for his death?? Good lord, this took a dark turn.

An entity then gives him the choice to become a unicorn and forever say goodbye to his mother and friends or die. Not wanting to die, he chooses to become a unicorn and that's the end.

Why did he have to shun everyone? Why was there no option to simply repent for what he'd done and become a protector of the Meadow or something? Ugh.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

For more bookish opinions, visit my blog: Craft-Cycle

A tragic tale that tells the backstory of Morgan the unicorn. Morgan is a curious colt who lives with his mother in the Meadows of Morning. One day, his curiosity gets the better of him and he must make a difficult sacrifice in order to survive.

Definitely darker than the majority of modern picture books. Deals with difficult themes of hopelessness, abandonment, and death. Also has messages about listening to parents and the danger of being too curious.

The artwork is absolutely lovely. Great for horse-lovers.

Definitely a dark read, but has a sweet hopefulness to the ending as it was published after some of the other stories featuring Morgan as a full-grown unicorn. The text is quite wordy so works better for older readers who may be more prepared to handle some of the darker themes.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a copy of the first paperback edition.

I had several Serendipity books, even though I was older than the intended audience, because I loved the art. Morgan the unicorn is the star of a few Serendipity books. Here is his origin story.

Most Serendipity books had morals at the end, in the form of a typical rhymed 4 line poem. This book was unusual in that there wasn't such a moral, just the poem. This was the only Serendipity book I've read (I've only read about a dozen) that was a story just for a story's sake. No big, heavy lesson here. I see that the latest reprint shows a moral on the cover.

Although there's not much of a plot, as I've gotten older, I do appreciate that the Morgan series had continuity. The rules for being a unicorn never changed in the Serendipity universe. It's rare that a children's or young adult series bothers with continuity.

[Aubariah · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone over the age of 9 who can sass back poor storytelling.

It might be trying to teach a lesson about listening to your mother (or you might slip off a waterfall and be left to your death!) but it also depicts mothers just giving up and leaving their children to die (should have listened, Morgan!). That’s a horrible and insane depiction for a children’s book.

Morgan does get saved! By the morning star (?) who turns him into a unicorn on the condition that he is forever shunned from his horse friends and family. Maybe this is a villain origin story? Don’t make a deal with a fey creature, Morgan.

[Hezekiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is so weird, and not in a good way. It is about a horse who goes exploring, after his mother said no, and gets both of his back legs broken. After 2-3 pages of him laying there with broken legs waiting to die he makes a deal with an entity named "Morningstar," in which he is healed, becomes a unicorn, and can never see his family again.

This book is concerning.
Tldr;
The plot os reble horse make a deal with devil and becomes unicorn.

[Lacie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not giving story details away, but you should know, this one is definitely harder on the heart strings than the other Serendipity books we've been reading. I recommend giving it a read yourself, before you read it to your kiddos. It might b help you figure out whether you think they can handle some of the harder topics. I made the mistake of reading it out loud first and we all got teary eyes.

[Robert Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was cute but sad.

[Shayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a horse named Morgan. He likes to explore and he doesn’t really listen to his mother, because he is curious. His mother tells him that one day he’s going to get into trouble. And one day he does, he falls over a waterfall, and no one can get to him to rescue him. The morning star sees this little horse waiting to die, and the star changes Morgan into a unicorn. But Morgan has to leave his mom and goes to a magical land.
I like this book because there is text on one side of the page, and there is a detailed picture on the other side of the page. The text and pictures complement one another. There is also a moral to be learned at the end of the story. Which make this book a very worthy read.
I would use this book to teach my children. They would enjoy looking at the pictures, and they would also learn some great life lessons. They would be better kids for reading this book.

[Dee · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is my favourite children's book series...except for this particular book. It is the saddest, most traumatic thing I ever read as a child. It made me literally think about dying...I mean, it gave me the idea that if I were ever injured or sick, my mother might walk away and leave me. So if I wanted to be a unicorn, I needed to leave my family forever. I was a little girl...of course I wanted to be a unicorn lol. Terrible message that instills all kinds of fears into a child's head about abandonment and loss. Do NOT read this to a little kid.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basic plot: Morgan suffers an accident and becomes a magical unicorn.

I think I got my first Serendipity book through a Scholastic book order or book fair. I quickly became obsessed and collected a ton and a half of them as a child. I would spend hours just looking at the pictures because the art is simply gorgeous. The stories were whimsical and fun, and always ended with some sort of life lesson for kids. I kept reading these books long after other picture books had been set aside.

[Molly Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was good, my Daddy would reward me by taking me to the book store. We found Serendipity books, and became addicted. The pictures were beautiful, the words sounded poetic when read with my father's Spanish accent. I began closing my eyes and picturing the stories in my head as he read. Before I was even able to read, Serendipity books built the foundation upon which my love of reading now stands.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love "Morgan Morning" just like any of the Serendipity books by Stephen Cosgrove. It is the story of a curious foal who finds himself in a perilous situation. The illustrations are stunning and complement the story well. The moral at the end of the book is wonderful.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when I was younger and it was incredibly upsetting. But for some reason I really liked it. Possibly because I was not used to story ending the way it did. Most modern american children's stories are all giggles and smiles by the end.

[Ilana · Rating 5 out of 5]

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).

[Regis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story from my childhood. Though, if I'm being totally honest, it really upset me that Morgan's mother walks away, leaving him to die, without really attempting rescue. That aside, the moral of the story is important, and the narration agreeable.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even as a kid, I like the sad ones best.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was always my favorite of the Serendipity books. So sad.

[Tsorningold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Morgan, it really is a very sad little book.

["KayFey" · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first beloved book my mom bought that solidified my love for this series and my lifelong obsession with unicorns (that DID NOT end with my preteen years!).

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book SO MUCH as a child!! All of the "Serendipity" books were dear to me. :-)

[Hedy Harper (Erin Hanton) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a fan of the Serendipity books, but this book is really just depressing. So, so sad.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a devastatingly sad story to read as a child.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

First read: in the 90s