Dixie Willson facts for kids
Dixie Lucile Reiniger Willson (born July 30, 1890 – died February 6, 1974) was an American writer. She wrote many children's books, novels, and short stories. She also worked as a screenwriter for movies.
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About Dixie Willson's Life
Dixie Willson was born in Estherville, Iowa. Her parents were John David Willson and Rosalie Willson. Her father was a lawyer. Her mother was a primary school teacher and piano tutor.
In 1894, her family moved to Mason City, Iowa. Her two younger brothers were born there. One of her brothers was Meredith Willson. He became a very famous composer. He wrote the popular Broadway musical The Music Man.
Dixie Willson's Creative Work
Dixie Willson wrote many books for children. She also wrote lots of short stories and poems. Her most famous children's book is called Honey Bear. This book has beautiful pictures drawn by Maginel Wright Enright. Maginel Wright Enright was the sister of the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
Honey Bear is a story told in rhyme. It's about a baby who is taken from his crib by a bear and goes into the forest. A famous writer named Tom Wolfe said that Honey Bear was the book that first made him want to become a writer.
Dixie Willson also wrote about the circus. In her book Where the World Folds Up at Night, she described what it was like behind the scenes at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. She even performed with the circus for a short time! She wrote other circus-themed books too, like Little Texas and Mystery in Spangles. These books were inspired by her close friend Bird Millman. Bird Millman was a high-wire artist. Dixie Willson even dedicated her book Honey Bear to Bird Millman.
Books by Dixie Willson
- Pinky-Pup. 1922.
- Pinky Pup and The Empty Elephant. 1922.
- Honey Bear. 1923.
- The Empty Elephant. 1923.
- Clown Town. 1924.
- A Circus ABC. 1924.
- Little Texas: A Story of the Circus. 1925.
- Tuffy Good Luck. 1927.
- Games For Grown Ups. 1929.
- Five Minute Plays. 1930.
- Once Upon A Monday. 1931.
- Where The World Folds Up at Night. 1932.
- Favorite Stories of Famous Children. 1938.
- Hostess of the Skyways. 1941.
- Hollywood Starlet. 1942.
- Mystery of the Scarlet Staircase. 1946.
- The Veiled Mystery. 1948.
- Three Buckaroos. 1950.
- Way Out West: A Cowboy Story. 1950.
- Mystery in Spangles. 1950.
Movies Based on Her Stories
Dixie Willson also wrote screenplays for movies. Some of her stories were turned into films.
- 1923 The Age of Desire
- 1926 God Gave Me 20-Cents
- 1927 An Affair of the Follies
- 1928 Three-Ring Marriage
- 1932 Ebb Tide
