Wesley Dennis (illustrator) facts for kids

John Wesley Dennis (born May 16, 1903 – died September 3, 1966) was a talented American artist. He is best known for drawing pictures for children's books. He worked with writer Marguerite Henry on 15 popular books about horses.

Wesley Dennis illustrated more than 150 books during his life. These included famous stories like Black Beauty by Anna Sewell and The Red Pony by John Steinbeck. He also wrote and illustrated some of his own books, such as Flip and Tumble.

About Wesley Dennis: His Life Story

Early Life and Artistic Beginnings

Wesley Dennis was born on May 16, 1903, in Falmouth, Massachusetts. He grew up on a farm located on Cape Cod. Both he and his older brother, Morgan, learned to draw from a young age. Wesley loved drawing farm animals, especially horses. Morgan preferred drawing dogs.

When he was 17, Wesley left school. He tried to join the United States Naval Academy, but he didn't pass the entrance exam. He then moved to Boston to find work. His brother Morgan was already working there as a newspaper illustrator.

Wesley found a job at the Boston American newspaper. He showed them some of Morgan's drawings, pretending they were his own. He also got illustration jobs with big department stores like Jordan Marsh. At first, he didn't plan to become an artist.

Becoming a Horse Artist

Wesley's brother Morgan encouraged him to draw horses for a living. Wesley started by sketching horses that won races. He hoped their owners would ask him to draw portraits of their horses. This idea brought him some success.

To get even better, Wesley decided to study art in France. He learned from an artist named Lowes Dalbiac Luard. Luard was an expert in drawing horse bodies and how they move. This training helped Wesley become a master at illustrating horses.

Family Life and First Book

In 1940, Wesley Dennis married Dorothy Schiller Boggs. The next year, in 1941, he published his very first book. It was called Flip. The story was about a pony named Flip who wanted to jump over a brook.

Wesley's drawings in Flip caught the eye of author Marguerite Henry. She was writing a book called Justin Morgan Had a Horse. She wanted the best horse artist to illustrate it. After looking at many books, she loved Wesley Dennis's work.

Working with Marguerite Henry

Marguerite Henry sent her story to Wesley Dennis. This was the start of a 20-year partnership between them. Together, they created 15 wonderful books. These books became very popular with young readers who loved horses.

In 1941, Wesley Dennis also bought a farm in Warrenton, Virginia. This farm became his main home. He continued to draw and illustrate many books there.

Wesley Dennis passed away in Falmouth, Massachusetts, when he was 63 years old. He had been ill for about six months.

Books Illustrated by Wesley Dennis

Wesley Dennis illustrated many books throughout his career. He brought many stories to life with his detailed and lively drawings.

Books with Marguerite Henry

Wesley Dennis and Marguerite Henry worked together on these popular books. Most were published by Rand McNally.

• Justin Morgan Had a Horse (1945)
• Always Reddy (1947) – also known as Shamrock Queen
• Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin (1947) – a book about the artist Benjamin West
• Misty of Chincoteague (1947)
• King of the Wind: the Story of the Godolphin Arabian (1948)
• Little-or-Nothing from Nottingham (1949)
• Sea Star, Orphan of Chincoteague (1949)
• Born To Trot (1950) – about a type of horse called a standardbred
• Album of Horses (1951)
• Brighty of the Grand Canyon (1953)
• Justin Morgan Had a Horse (updated version, 1954)
• Wagging Tails: Album of Dogs (1955)
• Cinnabar, the One O'Clock Fox (1956)
• Black Gold (1957) – about the famous horse Black Gold
• Muley-Ears, Nobody's Dog (1959)
• All About Horses (1962) – with drawings by Wesley Dennis
• Five O'Clock Charlie (1962)
• Stormy, Misty's Foal (1963)
• Portfolio of Horse Paintings (1964) – first published as Portfolio of Horses in 1952
• White Stallion of Lipizza (1964) – about the famous horses of the Vienna Spanish Riding School

Other Books Illustrated

Wesley Dennis also illustrated many other books by different authors, and some of his own.

• Serpent’s Credo by George Faunce Whitcomb (1931)
• Flip by Wesley Dennis (1941)
• Flip and the Cows by Wesley Dennis (1942)
• Riders of the Gabilans by Graham M. Dean (1944)
• The Red Pony by John Steinbeck (1945)
• Holiday by Wesley Dennis (1946)
• Golden Sovereign by Dorothy Lyons (1946)
• Black Beauty, the autobiography of a horse by Anna Sewell (1946)
• Now Listen, Warden by Ray P. Holland (1946)
• Palomino and other horses edited by Wesley Dennis (1950)
• Flip and the Morning by Wesley Dennis (1951)
• Fools Over Horses by Helen Orr Watson (1952)
• Lord Buff and The Silver Star by George Agnew Chamberlain (1955)
• Crow I Know by Wesley Dennis (1957)
• Cammie's Choice by Jane McIlvaine (1961)
• Cammie's Challenge by Jane McIlvaine (1962)
• A Horse Called Mystery by Marjorie Reynolds (1964)
• Book of Ponies by Suzanne Wilding (1965)
• Ice Bird, a Christmas legend by Pauline B. Innis (1965)
• Small War of Sergeant Donkey by Maureen Daly (1966)
• Tumble, the story of a mustang by Wesley Dennis (1966)