Jim Kjelgaard
Jim Kjelgaard was a notable American author born on December 6, 1910, in New York City, known for his engaging children's books centered around animals and nature. Raised on farms in the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania, Kjelgaard's deep connection to the wilderness and wildlife inspired much of his writing. He pursued studies at Syracuse University and had a diverse career, working in various roles including trapper and plumber's apprentice before fully dedicating himself to writing. His first book, *Forest Patrol* (1941), reflects his conservationist views and personal experiences in the natural world.
Kjelgaard's most acclaimed work, *Big Red* (1945), features a champion Irish setter and highlights themes of friendship and adventure, forming the first part of a trilogy that includes *Irish Red* and *Son of Big Red*. His storytelling often intertwines human and animal characters, showcasing thrilling outdoor activities and emphasizing the relationship between people and nature. His contributions to children's literature earned him several awards, including a Boys Club Award for *Big Red* and a Spur Award in 1958 for *Wolf Brother*. Kjelgaard's works remain appreciated for their timeless themes and relatable characters, catering to young readers' love for adventure and the great outdoors. He passed away on July 12, 1959, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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Jim Kjelgaard
Writer
- Born: December 5, 1910
- Birthplace: New York, New York
- Died: July 12, 1959
- Place of death: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Biography
Jim Kjelgaard, an author of children’s books about animals and nature, was born on December 6, 1910, in New York City. The son of a physician, he spent most of his youth living on farms in the Allegheny Mountains in Pennsylvania. He attended Syracuse University for two years and married Edna Dresen in 1939; the couple had a daughter. Kjelgaard worked as a trapper, teamster guide, surveyor’s assistant, factory worker, and plumber’s apprentice.
Kjelgaard’s love for animals, particularly dogs, is evident in his many books combining personal experiences in the wild country with dogs and wild animals, including polar bears, beavers, and foxes. His first book, Forest Patrol (1941), is set in the Allegheny back country and stems from the time he spent there with his brother John. It focuses on a young man’s efforts to go to forest ranger school and reflects Kjelgaard’s views on conservation and his concerns about the balance of nature within the forest environment.
His most popular book, Big Red, was published in 1945. It features his favorite dog breed, a champion Irish setter named Big Red, and his friendship with Danny, a young trapper. Big Red is the first in a trilogy of books which also includes Irish Red, Son of Big Red (1951), and Outlaw Red, Son of Big Red (1953). Although the Irish setter was his favorite breed, Kjelgaard also featured other dog breeds in his books, including a greyhound in Desert Dog, a collie in Double Challenge, a golden retriever in Stormy, an Alaskan husky in Snow Dog, and Wild Trek, and a bloodhound in A Nose for Trouble.
While animals are key characters in his books, Kjelgaard’s books also feature human characters involved in exciting outdoor activities, including a trapper in Big Red, a game warden in Trailing Trouble, and A Nose for Trouble, a naturalist in Wild Trek, and a nature photographer in Wildlife Cameraman. Kjelgaard also wrote nature fiction set in the past, such as Buckskin Brigade, a series of short stories highlighting the exploration and settlement of North America, and The Lost Wagon, about the Oregon Trail.
Kjelgaard won a Boys Club Award in 1948 for Big Red. Wolf Brother won a Spur Award from the Western Writers of America in 1958, and Ulysses and His Woodland Zoo earned the Boys Life Award from Dodd Mead in 1959. Kjelgaard’s books have timeless appeal because his stories focus on the relationship between man and nature and include realistic, believable characters who still resonate with readers today. He died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 12, 1959.