John Bennett (author) facts for kids

John Bennett (born May 14, 1865 – died December 28, 1956) was an American author. He is famous for the children's books he wrote and illustrated. Some of his books share old folk tales, especially from the Gullah culture. He was a key person in the Charleston Renaissance, a time when arts and culture grew in Charleston.

Early Life and Learning

John Bennett was born in Chillicothe, Ohio. His father was a merchant. From a young age, John loved to draw. He became very good at cutting silhouettes, which are paper cut-outs that show a person's outline.

He left high school to work for a newspaper. Later, he became a freelance writer and illustrator. By 1891, he started writing regularly for St. Nicholas Magazine. This was a popular monthly magazine for children.

John Bennett mostly taught himself how to illustrate. He wanted to go to art school, but he could not afford it. In the mid-1890s, he finally enrolled at the Art Students' League in New York. However, his children's book Master Skylark became a bestseller in 1897. Because of this success, he left art school to become a full-time writer.

An illustration from a 1909 play based on Master Skylark.

Writing Adventures

By 1895, John Bennett was a successful author. His sister suggested he write a children's book about a boy in Elizabethan England. This boy is taken by a group of actors. The book, Master Skylark (1897), first appeared in St. Nicholas magazine. Later, it was published as a book and became a huge hit.

Master Skylark is still considered a classic children's book. It has always been available to read since it was first published. In 1956, McCall's magazine even listed it as one of the 100 best books ever. The story has also been turned into plays several times.

In 1898, John Bennett moved to Charleston, South Carolina. His doctor suggested he move to a warm place for his health. He married Susan Smythe, whose family was well-known in Charleston. He became very active in promoting art and culture in the city.

He started to include black folk tales and the Gullah language in his stories. For example, his 1906 book The Treasure of Peyre Gaillard features Gullah tales. He was interested in saving these old stories.

During World War I, John Bennett volunteered in Charleston. This helped him connect with more people. The years between the two World Wars saw a big growth in arts in Charleston. This time is known as the Charleston Renaissance. John Bennett was a leader in this movement. He helped start the Poetry Society of South Carolina. This society invited many famous poets to visit.

In later years, Bennett published three more books based on folk tales. These included Madame Margot: A Grotesque Legend of Old Charleston (1921). Another was The Doctor to the Dead: Grotesque Legends and Folk Tales of Old Charleston (1946).

His most popular folk tale collection was The Pigtail of Ah Lee Ben Loo (1928). This book was a runner-up for the 1929 Newbery Award. Even though the book went out of print, the 200 amazing silhouettes he drew for it are still admired today.

John Bennett's writings and papers are kept at the South Carolina Historical Society.

Books by John Bennett

• Master Skylark: A Story of Shakespeare's Time (1897)
• Barnaby Lee (1900)
• The Treasure of Peyre Gaillard (1906)
• Madame Margot: A Grotesque Legend of Old Charleston (1921)
• The Pigtail of Ah Lee Ben Loo: With Seventeen Other Laughable Tales & 200 Comical Silhouettes (1928)
• The Doctor to the Dead: Grotesque Legends and Folk Tales of Old Charleston (1946)

• Green, Harlan. Mr. Skylark: John Bennett and the Charleston Renaissance. University of Georgia Press, 2001.