John Wesley Dennis[2] (May 16, 1903[3] – September 3, 1966[a])[2] was an American illustrator, known best for fifteen children's books about horses that he created in collaboration with writer Marguerite Henry.
[4] He illustrated over 150 books in his lifetime,[5] including Anna Sewell's Black Beauty and John Steinbeck's The Red Pony.
He and his older brother Morgan both learned to draw specializing in farm animals, with preference for horses and dogs respectively.
[5] He decided to further his education, and traveled to France to study with artist Lowes Dalbiac Luard, an expert on horse anatomy.
So I went to the library, studied the horse books, and immediately fell in love with the work of Will James and Wesley Dennis.
The books feature a uniform cover look, and many include Wesley Dennis's original art, digitally refreshed.
Beginning 2014 Simon & Schuster reissues a series of Marguerite Henry novels in "deluxe hardcover editions" with illustrations by Wesley Dennis, where applicable, digitally refreshed from existing reproductions.
The first six volumes in the series are Henry–Dennis collaborations: King of the Wind, Brighty, and White Stallion (late 2014); Justin Morgan, Sea Star, and Stormy (early 2015).