J. M. Barrie

Hello there. My name is James, and I love to tell stories. When I was a little boy growing up in Scotland, my favorite thing to do was play make-believe games with my brothers and sisters. I would invent exciting adventures for us to go on right inside our own home. I knew that when I grew up, I wanted to be a writer and share my stories with the whole world.

One day, while walking in a big, beautiful park in London, I met a family with five wonderful boys. We became the best of friends and played the most amazing games. We imagined we were pirates, explorers, and heroes. Our games gave me a brilliant idea for a new story about a magical boy who could fly and never, ever had to grow up. His name was Peter Pan. I imagined a special place for him to live called Neverland, where he had adventures with his fairy friend Tinker Bell and the Lost Boys.

My story about Peter Pan was put on a stage for everyone to see in 1904, and people loved it. It made me so happy to see children smiling. I wanted Peter Pan’s magic to do something extra special, so in 1929 I gave my story as a gift to a children’s hospital in London. This meant that every time someone enjoyed the story of Peter Pan, it helped the doctors and nurses take care of children who were unwell. My story could help children in a whole new way.

I lived to be 77 years old, and I filled my life with stories. Today, children all over the world still read about Peter Pan and dream of flying to Neverland. I hope my stories always remind you to believe in magic, have adventures, and never forget the wonderful fun of being a child.