James Arthur Kjelgaard (1910–1959) was an American author of young adult literature. He was born in New York City, the son of a physician. He was fourth of six children, with four brothers and one sister. The family moved to a 750-acre farm in the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania when he was young. Here, the outdoors provided a playground for all the family children. Dave Drakula, writing in Jim Kjelgaard—From the Bigwoods to Hollywood, recounts a time when Kjelgaard and his brother Henry were outside playing when Kjelgaard spotted a bear. Both boys climbed an apple tree for safety. Once the bear was gone, Jim climbed down from the tree, screaming and yelling as he ran into the house. Unfortunately, Henry was too small to get out of the tree himself and remained stuck there. Then the be
