Dare Wright facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dare Wright
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| Born | December 3, 1914 Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
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| Died | January 25, 2001 (aged 86) New York City, U.S.
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| Nationality | Canadian American |
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| Years active | 1957–1981 |
Dare Wright (born December 3, 1914 – died January 25, 2001) was a talented Canadian–American children's author, model, and photographer. She is most famous for her 1957 children's book, The Lonely Doll. This book used her own childhood doll and teddy bears as characters.
Contents
Early Life and Dreams
Dare Wright was born in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. She grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, in the United States. Her mother, Edith Stevenson Wright, was a portrait artist who raised Dare. Dare's brother, Blaine, lived with their father in New York City. Dare and Blaine met again when Dare moved to New York in her twenties.
Dare went to Laurel School in Shaker Heights, graduating in 1933. After that, she moved to New York to study acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. In 1935, she had a small acting role in a play called Pride and Prejudice on Broadway.
Becoming a Famous Author
In 1957, Dare Wright created her first children's book, The Lonely Doll. She used her own childhood doll, named Edith, and two teddy bears she bought from FAO Schwarz for the photos. The book became a huge success and made it onto The New York Times list for children's books.
In 2010, a British newspaper called The Guardian even named The Lonely Doll one of the 10 best illustrated children's books ever! Dare Wright wrote eighteen more stories after that first book.
One of her other books, Lona: A Fairy Tale, is special because it features photos of Dare Wright herself dressed as a fairy princess. She also used a doll in the same costume to make it look like her character had magically shrunk to doll-size.
Some of Dare Wright's books, like Make Me Real and Ocracoke in The Fifties, were published after she passed away. Ocracoke in The Fifties is her only book written for adults. Her amazing photographs were shown for the first time in an art exhibit in 2012.
Her Books
Dare Wright wrote many beloved books, mostly for children. Here are some of her well-known works:
Popular Books
- The Lonely Doll. Doubleday, (1957)
- Holiday for Edith and the Bears. Doubleday, (1958)
- The Little One. Doubleday, (1959)
- The Doll and the Kitten. Doubleday, (1960)
- The Lonely Doll Learns a Lesson. Doubleday, (1961)
- Lona, a Fairy Tale. Random House, (1963)
- Edith and Mr. Bear. Random House, (1964)
- Take Me Home. Random House, (1965)
- A Gift from the Lonely Doll. Random House, (1966)
- Look at a Gull. Random House, (1967)
- Edith and Big Bad Bill. Random House, (1968)
- Look at a Colt. Random House, (1969)
- The Kitten's Little Boy. Four Winds Press, (1971)
- Edith and Little Bear Lend a Hand. Random House, (1972)
- Look at a Calf. Random House, (1974)
- Look at a Kitten. Random House, (1975)
- Edith and Midnight. Doubleday, (1978)
- Edith and the Duckling. Doubleday, (1981)
Books Still Available
Many of Dare Wright's books are still in print today, meaning you can still find them!
- The Lonely Doll. Doubleday, (2013) (First time in paperback)
- Holiday for Edith and the Bears. Dare Wright Media (2013)
- The Doll and the Kitten. Dare Wright Media (2013)
- Lona a Fairy Tale. Dare Wright Media (2013)
- Edith and the Duckling. Dare Wright Media (2013)
- Edith and Midnight. Dare Wright Media (2013)
- Edith and Mr. Bear. Dare Wright Media (2013)
- A Gift from the Lonely Doll. Dare Wright Media (2013)
- The Lonely Doll Learns a Lesson. Dare Wright Media (2013)
Books Published After Her Death
- Make Me Real. Xlibris. (2007)
- Ocracoke in the Fifties. John F. Blair, (2006)
Later Life
Dare Wright remained very close to her mother throughout her life. She also had a strong bond with her brother. She never married. Her mother passed away in 1975, and her brother passed away in 1985. Dare Wright died on January 25, 2001, at the age of 86.
