Arthur Yorinks was born in Roslyn, New York on August 21, 1953. As a child, he was exposed to an eclectic assortment of the arts including symphonies and art galleries in New York City, comic books, and 19th-century novels. He has written over 30 children's books including Hey, Al, winner of the 1987 Caldecott award; Louis the Fish, a Reading Rainbow main selection; Bravo Minski; Oh, Brother; and Company's Coming. He has also written opera librettos, ballets, plays and film scripts. He and children's author Maurice Sendak co-founded The Night Kitchen, a new theater company.