John Peterson (author) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Peterson
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| Born |
John Lawrence Peterson
February 10, 1924 Bradford, Pennsylvania
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| Died | November 30, 2002 |
| Education | Pratt Institute |
| Occupation | author of children's books |
| Known for | The Littles, The Secret-Hide Out |
| Spouse(s) | Holly (Simmonds) |
John Lawrence Peterson (born February 10, 1924 – died November 30, 2002) was an American writer. He wrote many popular books for children. He is most famous for creating The Littles. This series of books started in 1967. Later, it became an exciting animated cartoon show. Peterson also wrote The Secret Hide-Out, a very popular book from Scholastic Books.
Contents
John Peterson: A Beloved Children's Author
John Peterson was born in Bradford, Pennsylvania. This was on February 10, 1924. He went to the Pratt Institute to study. During World War II, he volunteered to serve his country. He was a paratrooper in the 11th Airborne Division. After the war, he returned to Pratt Institute. He graduated in 1948.
Life in New York
Peterson lived in Clinton Hill in Brooklyn, New York. He lived there with his wife, Holly Simmonds. She also graduated from Pratt. They had three sons: Chris, Matthew, and Joel. They also had a daughter named Elizabeth. Later, the family moved to Hankins, New York. John Peterson passed away on November 30, 2002. He was 78 years old. He had ten grandchildren.
From Illustrator to Author
Before writing books, John Peterson worked as an illustrator. He drew pictures for advertisements and magazines. He did this for twenty years. Then, he wrote his first book. It was called Tony's Treasure Hunt. Later, the name changed to Terry's Treasure Hunt. Another interesting book he wrote was How to Write Codes and Send Secret Messages. This book taught kids fun tricks. It showed how to use mirror writing and invisible ink.
His Most Famous Books
John Peterson is best known for The Littles series. These books are about a tiny family. They live secretly inside the walls of a human home. The books were so popular that they became an animated cartoon series. This show was made by DiC Entertainment. He also wrote The Secret Hide-Out. This book was very popular with kids in the 1960s and 1970s. It was published by Scholastic Books.
Helping His Community
John Peterson also spent time helping others. He often spoke at elementary schools across the United States. He volunteered for the Boy Scouts. He also directed a Sunday school class. He did this with his wife Holly. They taught at an Episcopal church.
