Jack Prelutsky
Author of The New Kid on the Block
About the Author
Jack Prelutsky, born on September 8, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York, is primarily known as a poet for children but he is also a gifted musician, actor, photographer, sculptor and potter. Prelutsky studied at Hunter College for two years. He proposed to his future wife, Carolynn, on the day they met; show more she accepted the next day. While growing up in Brooklyn, Prelutsky studied voice at The High School of Music and Art in New York and first planned to be an opera singer. However, he decided he did not have the drive to sing opera, and he became a folk singer. Later he tried his hand at drawing. For fun, he wrote some short poems and made some drawings, which became his first publication. He has since published numerous books of illustrated poetry and also provided illustrations for books by other writers, including many in translation. Prelutsky never condescends to his young readers. He deals in verse with many imaginative creatures, but he also writes about people and problems such bullies, school, and fear of the dark. He is aware of the sound of his words and likes to perform his poetry to the accompaniment of the guitar. He visits schools and libraries to perform his work. Jack Prelutsky is the recipient of numerous awards. In 1977 The Children's Book Council honored him for Nightmares: Poems to Trouble Your Sleep. His other award-winners are The Mean Old Mean Hyena, The Headless Horseman Rides Tonight, and The New Kid on the Block. In 2006, the Poetry Foundation named Prelutsky the inaugural winner of the Children's Poet Laureate award. His book Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant and Other Poems (illustrated by Carin Berger) won the 2007 Scandiuzzi Children's Book Award of the Washington State Book Awards in the Picture Book category. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Library of Congress
Series
Works by Jack Prelutsky
Be Glad Your Nose Is on Your Face: And Other Poems: Some of the Best of Jack Prelutsky (2008) 168 copies
The Pancake Collector 1 copy
The random house 1 copy
It's Snowing! It's Snowinng! 1 copy
Awful Oger's Awful Day 1 copy
Jack Prelutsky's Big Collection: The New Kid on the Block/ Something Big Has Been Here (2000) 1 copy
TEN BOOK PACK - 5 Copies Each of 'My Creature' and 'Pumpkins' - Houghton Mifflin, Invitations to… (1996) 1 copy
The Horror 1 copy
Once upon a time 1 copy
Today I'm Going Yesterday 1 copy
The Telephone Call 1 copy
We Are Plooters 1 copy
The Rains in Little Dribbles 1 copy
Dauntless Dimble 1 copy
Surprise Party, The 1 copy
Associated Works
The Children's Treasury: Best Loved Stories and Poems from Around the World (1987) — Contributor — 149 copies
Cricket Magazine, Vol. 8, No. 1, September 1980 — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1940-09-08
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Places of residence
- Queen Anne, Washington, USA
- Education
- Hunter College
High School of Music and Art, New York - Occupations
- poet
- Awards and honors
- Children's Poet Laureate Award (2006)
Members
Reviews
Lists
Youth: Poetry (1)
Awards
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 115
- Also by
- 23
- Members
- 28,038
- Popularity
- #722
- Rating
- 4.0
- Reviews
- 898
- ISBNs
- 525
- Languages
- 2
- Favorited
- 16