Gruelle was born in Arcola, Illinois, on December 24, 1880, to Alice (Benton) and Richard Buckner Gruelle. He was the son of Hoosier Group painter Richard Gruelle. Gruelle also contributed cartoons and illustrations to at least ten newspapers, four major news syndicates, and more than a dozen national magazines. He also created the Beloved Belindy doll. He is best known as the creator of Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy dolls and as the author/illustrator of dozens of books. John Barton Gruelle (Decem– January 9, 1938) was an American artist, political cartoonist, children's book and comics author, illustrator, and storyteller. In addition to designing the Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls, he soon began writing and illustrating make believe tales and adventure stories for children.The Magical Land of Noom (1922), and other books

By beating out fifteen hundred entrants in a comic drawing contest sponsored by the New York Herald, he earned a $2,000 prize and an extended contract to provide a weekly installment of his cartoon Mr. Johnny Gruelle (1880-1938), the much loved creator of the brother and sister rag dolls Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy, started his career as a newspaper cartoonist.

Stories include: “Raggedy Ann Learns a Lesson,” “Raggedy Ann and the Washing,” “Raggedy Ann and the Kite,” “Raggedy Ann Rescues Fido,” “Raggedy Ann and the Painter,” “Raggedy Ann’s Trip on the River,” “Raggedy Ann and the Strange Dolls,” “Raggedy Ann and the Kittens,” “Raggedy Ann and the Fairies’ Gift,” “Raggedy Ann and the Chickens,” “Raggedy Ann and the Mouse,” “Raggedy Ann’s New Sisters,” “How Raggedy Andy Came,” “The Nursery Dance,” “The Spinning Wheel,” “The Taffy Pull,” “The Rabbit Chase,” “The New Tin Gutter,” “Doctor Raggedy Andy,” “Raggedy Andy’s Smile,” “The Wooden Horse,” “Making Angels in the Snow,” and “The Singing Shell.”

As Gruelle’s granddaughter said, “ nothing to cause fright, glorify mischief, excuse malice, or condone cruelty.” All the original twenty-four stories from Johnny Gruelle’s two books are included here, and all are guaranteed to delight and inspire. Raggedy Ann has charmed millions with her warm and optimistic outlook and unflappable approach to difficulties, while Raggedy Andy has pleased fans with his adventurous spirit and compassionate nature. The dolls in these stories act and talk just like real people - that is, when their mistress, young Marcella, or other humans are not there to see them.

Raggedy andy stories johnny gruelle