Shel Silverstein was a songwriter, playwright, and cartoonist, but he is best known for his poetry and books for children, including "The Giving Tree" and "A Light in the Attic". Always thought-provoking and sometimes controversial, Silverstein's writing was accompanied by his distinctive art, making his books memorable and appealing to children and adults alike. But Silverstein didn't start out as a children's book writer. He pursued many other avenues first, all the while living a fascinating and unusual lifestyle.
Mythmaker: The Story of J.K. Rowling (Who Wrote That?)
Virtually everyone knows her name and the names of her wizarding characters. As the 13th richest woman in England, she earned her fortune in a rather unusual way - by writing books. J.K. Rowling is one of the most popular authors of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Her books about Harry Potter are widely read by adults and children alike and have been translated into more than 64 languages. With the recent completion of the seven-book series, Rowling's popularity is at an all-time high. But Rowling didn't start out famous.
With her witty depictions of English country life, Austen's works continue to appeal to modern day audiences. Austen's feisty heroines struggle to navigate the choppy waters of life, love, class structure, and human behavior in books like Emma and Pride and Prejudice.
Growing up poor in the barrios of Fresno, California, Gary Soto found it nearly impossible to imagine a better life for himself. Yet this child of farm workers was able to escape his life of poverty and despair to become a popular and versatile author. His work, ranging from poetry, fiction, and autobiographical essays for adults to novels, short stories, poetry, and picture books for young readers, explores what it is like to grow up as a Mexican American in the United States. "Gary Soto" is the inspirational biography...
A biography of an author whose varied experiences provided background for many of his adventure stories, historical novels, sports books, and nature stories.
Gary Paulsen has used his adventurous life to enrich his writing for young children. Experiences such as living in the Philippines after World War II, joining a traveling carnival, and racing in the Iditarod have found their way into his novels. Paulsen is a passionate writer, and his book Hatchet won the Newbery Award.
