Doris Burn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Doris Burn
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Doris Burn at her home in Guemes Island, Washington
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| Born | Doris Wernstedt April 24, 1923 Portland, Oregon |
| Died | March 9, 2011 (aged 87) Bellingham, Washington |
| Alma mater | University of Washington |
| Period | 1965–1976 |
| Notable works | Andrew Henry's Meadow |
Doris "Doe" Burn (born Doris Wernstedt; April 24, 1923 – March 9, 2011) was a talented American author and artist. She wrote and illustrated many children's books. Doris spent most of her life on Waldron Island. This island is part of the San Juan Islands in Washington.
Contents
Discovering Doris Burn's Life
Doris Wernstedt was born in Portland, Oregon. Her father, Lage Wernstedt, was an explorer and worked for the United States Forest Service. Her mother was Adele. The family lived on Guemes Island near Anacortes.
Growing Up and Family Friends
The Wernstedt family became friends with the Burn family. This happened after writer June Burn interviewed Doris's father. Both families had summer cabins on Waldron Island. Waldron is a small island without ferry service.
Education and Island Life
Doris went to several universities. She studied at the University of Oregon and the University of Hawaii. She later graduated from the University of Washington. After World War II, she married South "Bob" Burn. They made their home on Waldron Island.
Doris and Bob had four children. For one year, Doris taught her children. This was at a one-room schoolhouse on Guemes Island. Doris and Bob remained lifelong friends and neighbors.
Working on Waldron Island
Life on Waldron Island was simple. There was no electricity, phone service, or running water. There were also no stores. Doris had to bring all her supplies by boat from the mainland.
She worked on her detailed illustrations in a small cabin. She would chop wood to keep the fire going. She also carried water for washing her brushes and pens. She always had a pot of tea brewing. Her children remember her working late at night. She used a lantern for light as the fire died down.
In 1956, Doris took her artwork to publishers in New York. They encouraged her to keep creating.
Doris Burn's Famous Books
Doris Burn's oldest son, Mark, inspired her first book.
Andrew Henry's Meadow
Her first book was Andrew Henry's Meadow (1965). It tells the story of a boy named Andrew Henry. He feels ignored by his family. So, he builds a special hideaway for himself. This hideaway is in a nearby meadow. Soon, other children join him. Andrew builds unique houses for each of them. These houses are made just for their hobbies and interests.
Andrew Henry's Meadow won the Washington Governor's Art Award. It was also chosen by the Weekly Reader book club. The book was reissued for its 40th anniversary in 2005. It was printed again in 2012.
Other Works
Doris Burn also wrote The Summerfolk and The Tale of Lazy Lizard Canyon. She illustrated eight other books for different authors.
Books Written and Illustrated
- Andrew Henry's Meadow (1965)
- The Summerfolk (1968)
- The Tale of Lazy Lizard Canyon (1976)
Books Illustrated by Doris Burn
- Joseph Jacobs. Hudden and Dudden and Donald O'Neary. 1968
- Robert Nathan. Tappy. 1968
- Liesel Moak Skorpen. We Were Tired of Living in a House. 1969
- Patricia Lee Gauch. My Old Tree. 1970
- Patricia Lee Gauch. Christina Katerina & the Box. 1971
- Oscar Brand. When I Came First to this Land. 1974
Andrew Henry's Meadow on Film
Actor Zach Braff has been working on a movie version of Andrew Henry's Meadow. This project started in 2004 with Twentieth Century Fox. Barry Sonnenfeld joined as the director in 2010.
Doris Burn's Legacy
Doris "Doe" Burn passed away on March 9, 2011. She was 87 years old.
Her family gave a collection of Doris's work to Western Washington University. This collection is available through Western Libraries Heritage Resources. It helps people learn about her amazing art and stories.
