Dirk Gringhuis facts for kids

Richard H. Gringhuis (born September 22, 1918 – died March 1974) was an American artist and illustrator. He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He became well-known for writing and illustrating many books, especially about Michigan history.

Becoming an Artist and Author

Richard Gringhuis studied art from 1939 to 1941 at the American Academy of Art in Chicago. After living in New York for a year, he moved back to Michigan. In 1952, he settled in East Lansing. There, he painted a large mural called the Michigan Folklore Mural at the East Lansing Public Library.

He was a producer and host for a TV show called “Open Door to Michigan.” He also worked at Michigan State University as a Curator of Exhibits and a professor.

Working with Michigan History

Richard Gringhuis received special awards for his work about Michigan. These included the Governor’s Award and an Award of Merit from the Michigan Historical Society.

From 1958 until his death, he worked closely with the Mackinac Island State Park system. He wrote and illustrated four books about the Mackinac region. He also illustrated many other publications and painted murals for exhibits there.

His Books and Illustrations

Richard Gringhuis wrote and illustrated 28 books. About half of these books were about Michigan's history. Some of his well-known books include Here Comes the Bookmobile (1952), Were-Wolves and Will-o-the-Wisps: French Tales of Mackinac Retold (1974), and Lore of the Great Turtle (1970).

He also illustrated books by other authors. He drew pictures for three books in The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner. These were Mystery Ranch, Mike's Mystery, and Blue Bay Mystery. In 1951, he illustrated The Hidden Valley of Oz.

Books Written and Illustrated by Richard H. Gringhuis

• Hope Haven: a tale of a Dutch boy and girl who found a new home in America (1947)
• Tuliptime (1951)
• The Hidden Valley of Oz by Rachel Cosgrove (1951)
• Here Comes the Bookmobile (1952)
• The Young Voyageur (1955)
• The Eagle Pine (1958)
• Rock Oil To Rockets: The Story of Petroleum in America (1960)
• Big Mac (1961)
• Saddle the Storm (1962)
• Of Cabbages and Cattle: The Story of America's Farms (1962)
• Big Dig: a Frontier Comes to Life (1962)
• Of ships and fish and fishermen, (Our natural resources) (1963)
• Mystery at Skull Castle (1964)
• Open door to the Great Lakes (1966)
• In scarlet and blue: The story of military uniforms in America (1966)
• Stars on the Ceiling: the Planetarium Story (1967)
• Giants, Dragons and Gods: Constellations and Their Folklore (1968)
• Lore of the Great Turtle (1970)
• The Great Parade: Tall Tales & True of Michigan's Past (1970)
• Indian Costume at Mackinac: Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century (1972)
• Were-Wolves and Will-o-the-Wisps: French Tales of Mackinac Retold (1974)