Michael Willhoite facts for kids

Michael Willhoite is a talented artist and writer. He is best known for creating children's books that show families with gay parents. His book, Daddy's Roommate, published in 1990, was one of the most talked-about books in American libraries during the 1990s. The American Library Association reported it was the second most challenged book of that decade.

Michael Willhoite: Artist and Writer

Michael Willhoite has made a big impact as both an artist and a writer. He is especially recognized for his unique children's books. These books help young readers understand different types of families. His work often focuses on showing families with gay parents in a positive way.

Early Life and Interests

Michael Willhoite was born on July 3, 1946, in Hobart, Oklahoma. He spent part of his childhood living with his aunt. In their home, books were very important. They were often read and discussed, which helped Michael develop a love for stories. From a young age, he also became very interested in movies and art. He once said that it was always expected he would become an artist. When he was in high school, he really enjoyed drawing caricatures. Caricatures are drawings that exaggerate someone's features in a funny way.

Drawing for Newspapers

In the 1980s, Michael Willhoite drew pictures for a newspaper called the Washington Blade. This newspaper was for the gay community in Washington, D.C. He created a series of caricatures every two weeks. These drawings showed famous gay men and lesbians from history. Many of these drawings were later put into two books. These books were called Members of the Tribe (published in 1993) and Willhoite's Hollywood (published in 1994). He also published another book of his cartoons from the Washington Blade in 1986, titled Now for My Next Trick.

Writing Children's Books

Michael Willhoite started working on his most famous book in 1990. His publisher, Sasha Alyson, began a new series of children's books. This series, called Alyson Wonderland, aimed to show families with gay and lesbian parents. Sasha Alyson asked Michael Willhoite to write a book for this new series. After thinking about how to present the topic, Willhoite created Daddy's Roommate. This book was important because it was the first children's book to feature two gay men as parents.

Facing Challenges

Daddy's Roommate quickly became a topic of much discussion. It was one of several books on a reading list for a school program in New York City. This program was called the "Children of the Rainbow" curriculum. The book faced many objections from people who did not agree with its content. However, the book received good reviews from magazines like Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal. Because of these good reviews, many libraries bought the book for their collections. Still, it often faced challenges from library users who disagreed with it. The American Library Association reported that it was the most challenged book in the country in both 1993 and 1994.

Other Works and Awards

After Daddy's Roommate, Michael Willhoite wrote another book called Daddy's Wedding. This book was published in 1996. In 1991, he won a special award for Daddy's Roommate. It was a Lambda Literary Award in the Small Press category. Michael Willhoite has also written novels for older readers. His novel The Venetian Boy came out in 2011. Another novel, The Goddess of Destruction, was published in 2014. In 2021, he released another children's book. This book is called Calvin and the Girls. It tells the story of a shy young dairy farmer. His cows help him find a wife. This book is also printed in a way that makes it easier for children with dyslexia to read.