John and Patricia Beatty facts for kids

John and Patricia Beatty were a married couple from America who loved to write. John was a history professor, and Patricia was a children's librarian. They wrote many books together. After John passed away in 1975, Patricia kept writing until she died in 1991. All their books are now available again as e-books through Beebliome Books.

John Beatty: A Life in History

John Louis Beatty was born on January 24, 1922, in Portland, Oregon. He grew up to become a history professor. He wrote ten books with his wife, Patricia. He also helped edit a big two-volume history book called Heritage of Western Civilization. John Beatty worked as a history and humanities professor at the University of California, Riverside. He passed away on March 23, 1975, in Riverside, California.

Patricia Beatty: A Storyteller's Journey

Patricia Beatty was born on August 26, 1922, also in Portland, Oregon. She spent part of her life in the Pacific Northwest and sometimes lived on Indian reservations. Patricia went to Reed College in Portland. She worked as a children's librarian and a high school teacher. She wrote fifty books in total. Ten of these books were written with her first husband, John Beatty. In 1975, she married again to Carl Uhr, who was an economics professor at the University of California. Patricia Beatty died on July 9, 1991.

Awards for Their Books

Awards for Patricia Beatty

Patricia Beatty won several awards for her writing:

• In 1972, her book Lupita Manana was nominated for the Jane Addams Children's Book Award.
• In 1974, she won the California Council Medal from the Southern California Council on Literature for Children and Young People.
• She won the California Council Medal again in 1976.
• In 1983, she received the Literature Medal from the same council for her book Jonathan Down Under.
• She won the Western Writers of America Award in 1984.
• She won the Western Writers of America Award again in 1987.
• In 1988, she won the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for her book Charley Skedaddle.

Awards for Both John and Patricia Beatty

John and Patricia Beatty also received awards for their books written together:

• In 1963, At the Seven Stars was named one of the New York Times One Hundred Outstanding Books for Young People.
• In 1965, Campion Towers won the Commonwealth Club of California Medal for the best children's book by a California author.
• In 1966, A Donkey for the King was on the Horn Book honor list.
• In 1967, The Young Dirk received the Southern California Council on Children's and Young People's Literature Medal.

Books by the Beattys

Books Written by Both John and Patricia Beatty

• Squaw Dog (1965)
• Campion Towers (1965)
• A Donkey for the King (1966)
• The Royal Dirk (1966)
• At the Seven Stars (1967)
• The Queen's Wizard (1967)
• Witch Dog (1968)
• Pirate Royal (1969)
• Holdfast (1972)
• Master Rosalind (1974)
• Who Comes to King's Mountain? (1975)

Books Written by John Beatty Alone

• Warwick and Holland, Being the Lives of Robert and Henry Rich (1965)
• Heritage of Western Civilization Volumes I and II (1982)

Books Written by Patricia Beatty Alone

• Bonanza Girl (1962)
• The Nickel-Plated Beauty (1964)
• Eight Mules from Monterey (1966)
• The Queen's Own Grove (1966)
• The Sea Pair (1970)
• O the Red Rose Tree (1972)
• Red Rock over the River (1973)
• The Bad Bell of San Salvador (1973)
• How Many Miles to Sundown? (1974)
• Rufus, Red Rufus (1975)
• By Crumbs, It's Mine (1976)
• Something to Shout About (1976)
• Billy Bedamned, Long Gone By (1977)
• I Want My Sunday, Stranger (1977)
• Just Some Weeds from the Wilderness (1978)
• Lacy Makes a Match (1979)
• The Staffordshire Terror (1979)
• That's One Ornery Orphan (1980)
• Lupita Manana (1981)
• Jonathan Down Under (1982)
• Melinda Takes a Hand (1983)
• The Coach That Never Came (1985)
• Behave Yourself Bethany Brant (1986)
• Charley Skedaddle (1987)
• Be Ever Hopeful, Hannalee (1988)
• Eben Tyne, Powder Monkey (1990)
• Wait for Me, Watch for Me, Eula Bee (1978)
• Who Comes with Cannons? (1990)
• Jayhawker (1991)
• Turn Homeward, Hannalee (1991)
• Sarah and Me and the Lady from the Sea (1994)

The John and Patricia Beatty Award

The John and Patricia Beatty Award is a special prize given by the California Library Association. This award honors the author of a great book for children or young adults. The book must help people learn about California and its people. Patricia Beatty helped start this award and it was named after her and her husband. The award began in 1990. The winner receives $500 and a special plaque.