Diana Ross (author) facts for kids

Diana Patience Beverly Ross (born July 8, 1910 – died May 4, 2000) was an English writer. She wrote many books for children. Diana was also an artist and a teacher. She even drew pictures for some of her own books. For these illustrations, she used the name "Gri," which was the name of her cat!

Life and Work

Diana Ross studied art at the Central School of Art in London. When she was in her early twenties, she worked at an orphanage in Newfoundland. This orphanage was part of the Grenfell Mission. Later, she helped a man named Wilfred Grenfell with his book. She helped him research his history book about Labrador. She also drew the pictures for his book, but she wasn't given credit for them.

The Little Red Engine Series

Diana Ross is most famous for her "Little Red Engine" series. These were picture books about a train. The first book was called The Little Red Engine Gets a Name. It came out in 1942. After that, she wrote seven more books about the same engine. Different artists drew the pictures for these books. Jan Le Witt and George Him illustrated the first book. Leslie Wood drew the pictures for the books that followed.

Other Creative Work

Diana Ross also wrote stories for BBC radio. These stories were broadcast for children to listen to. She also wrote several modern fairy tales. These longer stories were for older children. She even helped create a BBC children's TV show. It was called Camberwick Green. She wasn't officially credited for her work on the show.

In her later years, Diana Ross faced some health challenges. She lived the last ten years of her life with her daughter and son-in-law. They lived in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Selected Works

Here are some of the books Diana Ross wrote:

• The Beetle who Lived Alone (1941), illustrated by Margaret Kaye
• The Little Red Engine Gets a Name (1942), illustrated by Lewitt and Him
• The Story of Louisa (1945), illustrated by Margaret Kaye
• The Story of the Little Red Engine (1945), illustrated by Leslie Wood
• Whoo Whoo the Wind Blew (1946), illustrated by Leslie Wood
• The Little Red Engine goes to Market (1946), illustrated by Leslie Wood
• Ebenezer the Big Balloon, illustrated by Leslie Wood
• The Little Red Engine Goes to Town, illustrated by Leslie Wood
• William and the Lorry, illustrated by Shirley Hughes
• The Little Red Engine Goes Home, illustrated by Leslie Wood
• The Little Red Engine Goes Travelling, illustrated by Leslie Wood
• The Merry-Go-Round (1963), illustrated by Shirley Hughes
• Old Perisher (1965), illustrated by Edward Ardizzone
• The Little Red Engine Goes to be Mended (1966), illustrated by Leslie Wood
• The Little Red Engine and the Taddlecombe Outing (1968), illustrated by Leslie Wood
• The Little Red Engine Goes Carolling (1971), illustrated by Leslie Wood