Sterling North facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sterling North
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| Born | Thomas Sterling North November 4, 1906 Edgerton, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | December 21, 1974 (aged 68) Whippany, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Writer, literary critic |
| Genre | Novels, children's books |
| Notable works | Rascal |
| Children | Arielle North Olson |
| Relatives | Jessica Nelson North (sister), Justus Henry Nelson (uncle) |
Sterling North (born November 4, 1906, died December 21, 1974) was an American writer. He is most famous for his children's book Rascal. This book became a bestseller in 1963 and is still loved by many readers today.
Contents
Discovering Sterling North: A Writer's Journey
Early Life and Family Adventures
Sterling North was born in 1906 in a farmhouse near Lake Koshkonong, Edgerton, Wisconsin. His mother, Sarah Elizabeth Nelson, came from a pioneering family in Wisconsin. His father, David Willard North, also came from a local pioneering family. Sadly, Sterling's mother passed away when he was only seven years old.
As a teenager, Sterling faced a serious illness called polio. He bravely overcame this challenge. He grew up in the quiet village of Edgerton, Wisconsin. Later, he used this town as the setting for "Brailsford Junction" in some of his books.
Sterling had three siblings. His sister, Jessica Nelson North, was also a writer, poet, and editor. His brother, Herschel, served in World War I. Another sister, Theo, was known for being very organized in the family.
When Sterling was 11, his uncles wrote stories about their parents and their early farm life. One of these uncles was Justus Henry Nelson, who was a missionary in the Amazon Basin. These family stories might have inspired Sterling to become a writer himself.
A Career in Words: Writing and Editing
After attending the University of Chicago, Sterling North began his career as a reporter. He worked for several newspapers, including the Chicago Daily News and the New York World-Telegram. Eventually, he decided to become a full-time freelance writer, meaning he wrote for himself.
His Views on Comic Books
In 1940, Sterling North was a literary editor for the Chicago Daily News. At that time, comic books were becoming very popular. North expressed his concerns about this new type of entertainment. He believed that some comic books were not good for young readers. His opinions were shared by others over the next 15 years. This led to changes in how comic books were made.
Books That Became Movies
One of North's early books, The Pedro Gorino, was published in 1929. It told the story of Harry Dean, an African-American sea captain. Another novel, Plowing on Sunday (1934), featured a special cover illustration by artist Grant Wood.
North's book Midnight and Jeremiah was turned into a Disney movie called So Dear to My Heart in 1949. This film was even nominated for an Academy Award for its song "Lavender Blue". Sterling North also wrote many other books. These include Abe Lincoln: Log Cabin to White House and Raccoons are the Brightest People.
In 1956, he became the main editor for North Star Books at Houghton Mifflin. This company published biographies about American heroes for young adult readers. His wife, Gladys Buchanan North, also helped with the editing.
Rascal: A Boy and His Raccoon
Sterling North's most famous book is Rascal: A Memoir of a Better Era. It was published in 1963. The book tells the true story of a year in his childhood when he raised a baby raccoon named Rascal.
Rascal received many awards. It earned a Newbery Honor in 1964. It also won the Sequoyah Book Award and the Young Reader's Choice Award in 1966. The book was so popular that Disney made it into a film called Rascal in 1969.
Later, in 1977, a Japanese anime series called Araiguma Rasukaru was created based on the book. This anime had 52 episodes. The success of the anime actually led to North American raccoons being introduced to Japan.
Besides the story of the raccoon, Rascal also shows the loving relationship Sterling had with his father. It also touches on the sadness he felt after his mother passed away.
Sterling North's Lasting Legacy
The Sterling North Home and Museum
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Sterling North House
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 Location in Wisconsin
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| Location | 409 W. Rollin St., Edgerton, Wisconsin |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1894 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 96001579 |
| Added to NRHP | January 9, 1997 |
The house where Sterling North lived as a child still stands in Edgerton, Wisconsin. This house is the setting for many parts of his book Rascal. It has been carefully restored to look like it did in 1917 and is now open to the public as a museum.
Sterling's grandfather, Thomas North Jr., built the house in 1894. It is a large, two-story home built in the Queen Anne style. This style was popular at the time. You can see its features in the complex roof, bay windows, and decorative front porch.
Sterling and his father lived in this house by 1918, when Sterling was twelve. Many of the events in Rascal happened here. Sterling left the house in 1925 after he finished high school.
In the 1990s, the Sterling North Society bought the house. They worked to restore it to its 1917 appearance and turned it into a museum. A special bronze sign in front of the home honors Sterling North's importance to the community. School children, local businesses, and friends helped pay for this sign.
Celebrating His Life: Festivals and Tributes
Sterling North's hometown of Edgerton celebrated his 100th birthday with a book festival in October 2006. Famous people like journalist Helen Thomas and children's author Kevin Henkes attended. Sterling's daughter, Arielle North Olson, who is also a children's book author, was there too. Since then, Edgerton has held annual book festivals to remember Sterling North.
His Final Years
Sterling North passed away in Whippany, New Jersey, on December 21, 1974. He was 68 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Sterling North para niños
