Robert Bright facts for kids
Robert Bright (born August 5, 1902 – died November 21, 1988) was an American author and artist who created over 20 books for children during his 40-year career. He is most famous for his book Georgie (1944), a classic story about a friendly, shy little ghost who lives in the attic of Mr. and Mrs. Whittaker.
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About Robert Bright
His Early Life
Robert Bright was born in Sandwich, Massachusetts. His father was a journalist, and his mother's father was a bank president.
In 1903, when Robert was very young, his family moved to Germany. His father studied mathematics at the University of Göttingen. Robert went to school there and spoke German, but he spoke English at home.
In 1914, when World War I began, Robert, his mother, and brother were visiting England. His father was still in Germany. He was helping students leave the country. For about nine months, his father was held in a room in Göttingen.
Becoming a Writer
After his father was released, the family returned to the United States. Robert went to grammar school at Buckingham Browne & Nichols and then to Phillips Academy Andover.
In 1921, he graduated and went to Princeton University. He studied English and won a special competition. This allowed him to write for several newspapers, like the New York World and The Baltimore Sun.
In 1926, Bright moved to Paris. He worked for an independent newspaper called The Paris Times. Later, he returned to New York City. He worked for a publishing company and then in advertising for a French fur company.
The Story of Georgie
In 1938, a friend suggested that Robert Bright and his wife, Katherine, move to Taos, New Mexico. They moved there with their two young children. They lived in a simple adobe house and grew their own food. They also raised chickens.
In New Mexico, the Brights became friends with many famous writers and artists. These included W. H. Auden, Andrew Dasburg, and Georgia O'Keeffe.
Life in New Mexico inspired Bright's second novel, The Life and Death of Little Jo. This book was very popular. Robert Bright also started writing books for children. One day, while on vacation in California, he saw his children looking under their bed. They were searching for a little ghost they thought lived in the house. This moment gave him the idea for the Georgie books! The Georgie series became a beloved classic around the world.
Robert Bright's grandchildren also inspired some of his books. They even appear as characters in Georgie's Christmas Carol.
Robert Bright passed away from cancer in his home in San Francisco, California, in 1988.
Robert Bright's Books
Robert Bright wrote and illustrated many books. Here are some of them:
- The Travels of Ching (1943)
- The Intruders (1943)
- The Life and Death of Little Jo (1944)
- Georgie (1944)
- The Olivers (1947)
- Me and the Bears (1951)
- Hurrah For Freddie! (1953)
- Miss Pattie (1954)
- I Like Red (1955)
- Georgie to the Rescue (1956)
- The Friendly Bear (1957)
- Richard Brown and The Dragon (1957)
- Georgie's Halloween (1958)
- My Red Umbrella (1959)
- Which is Willy? (1962)
- Georgie and the Robbers (1963)
- Georgie and the Magician (1966)
- My Hopping Bunny (1967)
- Gregory: the Noisiest and Strongest Boy in Grangers Grove (1969)
- Georgie and the Noisy Ghost (1971)
- Georgie Goes West (1973)
- Georgie's Christmas Carol (1975)
- Georgie and the Buried Treasure (1979)
- Georgie and the Runaway Balloon (1983)
- Georgie and the Ball of Yarn (1983)
- Georgie and the Little Dog (1983)
- Georgie and the Baby Birds (1983)
- Slightly Scary Stories for Halloween (by Robert Bright, Edward Marshall, James Stevenson, Barbara K. Walker) (2007)
The books Georgie and Georgie to the Rescue were even made into motion pictures!
