Jack Prelutsky, born in 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. He proposed to his future wife, Carolynn, on the day they met; she accepted the next day. Prelutsky studied voice 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.
Paul O. Zelinsky Paul O. Zelinsky was born in Evanston, Illinois and grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. He received his B. A. from Yale and his M. F. A. from the Tyler School of Art, and from there went on to become an award winning illustrator. Zelinsky is the illustrator of three Caldecott Honor books, including "Hansel and Gretel" published in 1985, "Rumpelstiltskin" in 1987, and "Swamp Angel" by Anne Isaacs in 1995. He is the adapter and illustrator of "The Maid and the Mouse and the Odd-shaped House," "The Lion and the Stoat," "The Wheels on the Bus," and the illustrator of a trio of books by Beverly Cleary.