Will James

Born in Quebec in 1892, Will James became known as a western artist and author whose work drew heavily on his years around ranches and horses. Writing in a plain, lively style, he built a reputation for stories and illustrations that felt close to the everyday world of working cowboys.

His best-known book, Smoky the Cowhorse, received the Newbery Medal in 1927 and remains a classic of children's literature. He also wrote and illustrated many other books about western life, bringing together storytelling and art in a way that made his work especially distinctive.

Although he became strongly identified with the American West, his life began in Canada, and his personal history was more complicated than the cowboy image he projected. He died in 1942, but his books still stand out for their firsthand feel, affection for animals, and memorable picture of life on the open range.