Jim Benton facts for kids

This is about the American illustrator and writer. For the American football player, see Jim Benton (American football)

Jim K. Benton, born on October 31, 1960, is a super creative American artist and writer. He's famous for inventing many popular characters and stories. You might know his funny creations like Dear Dumb Diary and Franny K. Stein. But he's probably most famous for the sassy character, It's Happy Bunny!

Jim Benton's Early Life and Learning

Jim Benton grew up in Birmingham, Michigan. He finished high school at Seaholm High School in 1978. After that, he went to Western Michigan University to study fine arts. This is where he learned many skills for his future career.

How Jim Benton Started His Career

Jim Benton began his career in a shirt shop. He started designing his own unique characters for T-shirts there. At the same time, he also created illustrations and artwork for magazines and newspapers. His talent was quickly noticed. People magazine even called him "one of the most visible cartoonists in America."

Benton also designed greeting cards. He worked a lot in the magazine and publishing world. In 1998, his characters called SpyDogs became an animated TV show. This show, The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs, aired on Fox Kids.

He started licensing his own creations, which means other companies could use his characters on their products. This made his characters, like It's Happy Bunny, very popular. He created It's Happy Bunny in the mid-1990s, and it became widely licensed in 2002.

Today, Jim Benton lives in Birmingham, Michigan. He works from his own studio, creating new characters and stories. He is married and has two children.

Awards and Recognitions

Jim Benton has won many awards for his amazing work. Here are some of them:

• 2004: Gryphon Award honor book for Lunch Walks Among Us. This award is from the Center for Children's Books.
• 2005: LIMA International Licensing Award for Best Art Brand License for It's Happy Bunny.
• 2006: Eleanor Cameron Award for The Fran That Time Forgot. This award is from the Golden Duck Award Committee.
• 2006: LIMA International Licensing Award for Best Character Brand License – Soft Goods for It's Happy Bunny.
• 2007: LIMA International Licensing Award for Best Character Brand License – Hard Goods for It's Happy Bunny.
• 2007: Austin ADDY Awards for his work with the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. He won a Silver award for Public Service Campaign and a Bronze award for a Public Service postcard.
• 2009: Nominated for the National Cartoonists Society Reuben Award for Book Illustration for Cherise The Niece.
• 2011: Won the National Cartoonists Society Reuben Award for Greeting Cards for It's Happy Bunny.
• 2014: Won the National Parenting Publications Awards GOLD MEDAL for The End (Almost).
• 2015: Nominated for an Eisner Award for Dog Butts and Love. And Stuff Like That. And Cats..