Patrick Skene Catling facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patrick Skene Catling
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Skene Catling in February 2014
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| Born | 14 February 1925 London, England |
| Occupation | Writer, journalist, book reviewer |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Oberlin College |
| Spouse | Susan Barnes Watson (1952–1960) Diane Wheeler Nicholson (1964–1984) |
| Children | 4 |
Patrick Skene Catling was born on February 14, 1925. He is a British journalist, author, and book reviewer. He is most famous for writing the children's book The Chocolate Touch in 1952.
Patrick Skene Catling has written many books. This includes 12 novels for adults, 3 non-fiction books, and 9 books especially for children.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Patrick Skene Catling was born and went to school in London. He also studied in the United States at Oberlin College.
During his life, Catling traveled a lot. He worked as a journalist for newspapers like The Baltimore Sun and The Manchester Guardian. He also served as a navigator in the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Today, he lives in the Republic of Ireland. He continues to write books and reviews for different publications. These include The Spectator and The Telegraph.
His Writing Career
Patrick Skene Catling's first book, The Chocolate Touch, came out in 1952. Many people really liked it. This book is about a boy named John Midas who gets a magical touch. Everything he touches turns into chocolate!
Because The Chocolate Touch was so popular, Catling wrote more books about John Midas. These books became a children's book series.
The John Midas Series
The John Midas series includes:
- John Midas in the Dreamtime (1986)
- John Midas and the Vampires (1994)
- John Midas and the Radio Touch (1994)
- John Midas and the Rock Star (1995)
Reviewers have said that children can relate to John Midas's adventures. For example, School Library Journal wrote that kids who have been on many family trips might understand John's boredom in John Midas in the Dreamtime.
Other Books by Patrick Skene Catling
Besides the John Midas series, Patrick Skene Catling has written many other books. Here are some of them:
- The Chocolate Touch
- Better Than Working
- The Exterminator
- Jazz, Jazz, Jazz
- The Experiment
- Best Summer Job
- Tourist Attraction
- Freddy Hill: The Story of a Modern Man of Pleasure
- Eskimo Surprise
- Chocolate Magic
- The Catalogue
- A Trunkful of Tricks
