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The Boy Who Loved to Draw is a picture book biography of the very first world-famous American artist, Benjamin West. Children who enjoy this story may enjoy the longer entertaining biography Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin by Marguerite Henry, acclaimed author of Misty of Chincoteague.
Benjamin West has a talent and a deep desire for drawing and painting, but the Quaker family and society into which he is born is very practical and Benjamin’s drawing leads him into mischief! Will they come to understand and value his abilities?
[This picture book includes three small reproductions of Benjamin West’s art, including his first painting, painted at age ten!]
Crime Scene [Setting]
Where?
Pennsylvania
West household
Real world, true story
When?
Colonial America
Mid-1700s, before the Revolutionary War
Benjamin’s whole boyhood
Suspects [Characters]
Who?
Benjamin West—young boy, loved to draw and paint, very talented, a little mischievous
The West family (Mama, Papa, John, Thomas, Samuel, Joseph, Rachel, Sarah, Hannah, Mary, and Elizabeth)—Quakers, stern
Baby Sally
Gray Wolf—Lanape “Indian,” lived in wigwam, sold baskets, kind and helpful
Grimalkin the cat
