Seymour Reit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Seymour Reit
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| Born | Seymour Victory Reit November 11, 1918 New York City |
| Died | November 21, 2001 (aged 83) New York City |
| Pen name | Seymour Reit, Sy Reit |
| Occupation | Writer, cartoonist |
| Alma mater | New York University |
| Notable works | Casper the Friendly Ghost |
Seymour Victory Reit (born November 11, 1918 – died November 21, 2001) was a talented American writer and cartoonist. He is best known for helping to create the beloved character Casper the Friendly Ghost with cartoonist Joe Oriolo.
Seymour Reit wrote more than 80 books, mostly for children, covering many different topics. He also worked as an animator, a cartoonist, and a humor writer for various magazines.
Contents
The Early Life of Seymour Reit
Seymour Reit was born in New York City on November 11, 1918. He went to DeWitt Clinton High School and later to New York University. While at college, he enjoyed drawing cartoons for funny student magazines.
Starting a Career in Animation
After college, Seymour Reit began working in animation. He was an "in-betweener" and an "inker" for the 1939 animated movie Gulliver's Travels. An in-betweener draws the frames between key animation drawings to make movement smooth. An inker traces the animator's drawings onto clear sheets called cels.
He also wrote jokes and funny ideas for popular cartoons like Popeye and Betty Boop. Reit even created comic strips for Jerry Iger under the name Fiction House.
Seymour Reit's World War II Service
During World War II, Seymour Reit joined the U.S. Army Air Force. He was part of a special camouflage unit. Their job was to hide important places and equipment to protect the West Coast from possible attacks. Later, he served in Europe after D-Day.
His experiences in the war inspired him to write a book called The Amazing Camouflage Deceptions of World War II. This book shared stories about how armies used clever tricks to hide things during the war.
Seymour Reit's Work After the War
After World War II, Seymour Reit continued his creative work. He drew cartoons for famous comic books like Archie and Little Lulu. He also wrote new jokes for the Casper the Friendly Ghost animated shorts.
Reit wrote for the popular children's TV show Captain Kangaroo. In the 1950s, he started writing for Mad Magazine, contributing over 60 funny pieces. One of his articles, "The 'Down-To-Earth' Coloring Book," even helped start the trend of "adult" coloring books.
Books by Seymour Reit
Seymour Reit wrote over 80 books. Most of them were for children and covered a wide range of topics. He wrote about history, science, nature, and many other subjects.
One of his books for adults, The Day They Stole the Mona Lisa, was written in 1981. It tells the true story of how the famous Mona Lisa painting was stolen from the Louvre Museum in 1911.
Selected Books for Young Readers
Seymour Reit's books often made learning fun and exciting. Here are some examples of his works:
- Guns for General Washington (2001): This book tells the amazing story of how cannons were moved a long distance during the American Revolutionary War.
- A Dog's Tale (1996): This book was even featured on the PBS TV show Reading Rainbow.
- Trains (1990): An illustrated book about the history of trains and how they changed transportation.
- Behind Rebel Lines (1988): This book is about Sarah Emma Edmonds, a brave woman who pretended to be a man to serve as a spy during the American Civil War.
- Scotland Yard Detective (1987): Part of the Time Machine series, where readers could choose their own adventure.
- Sails, Rails, and Wings (1978): Explores different ways people travel, from boats to trains and airplanes.
- Ironclad!: A True Story of the Civil War (1977): A true story about the famous ironclad ships used in the Civil War.
- Race Against Death: A True Story of the Far North (1976): This book tells the exciting story of the 1925 serum run to Nome, Alaska, where dog sled teams delivered medicine.
- Benvenuto (1974) and Benvenuto and the Carnival (1976): These books are about a boy and his pet dragon.
- Child of the Navajos (1971): This book shares the story of a nine-year-old boy living on a modern Indian reservation.
- Growing Up in the White House (1968): A look at the lives of children who grew up in the White House.
- Coins and Coin Collecting (1965): A helpful guide for kids interested in collecting coins.
Seymour Reit also wrote many books for Golden Press, known for their Little Golden Books series, and many other publishers.
