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.
Arnold Stark Lobel (May 22, 1933-December 4, 1987) was a popular American author of children's books. Among his most popular books are those of the Frog and Toad series, and Mouse Soup, which won the Garden State Children's Book Award from the New Jersey Library Association. Lobel won the 1981 Caldecott Medal for his book, Fables. Lobel also illustrated the works of other authors. A notable example is Sam the Minuteman by Nathaniel Benchley, which was first published in 1969. He was born in Los Angeles, California. When he graduated from art school, he married Anita Kempler, who also achieved fame as a children's book author and illustrator. Lobel died ion December 4,1987 due to… complications arising from AIDS. He was 54 years old.