Autobiographies of Children’s Book Authors

Booklists sprout wherever there are booklovers. On asking for Favorite Autobiographies by Children’s Writers, here’s what we got from Grace Greene, Children’s Services Consultant for the Vermont State Libraries, and Leda Schubert, Children’s Media Specialist with the Dept. of Education. These are for 9-12s.

Byars, Betsy The Moon and I author of Midnight Fox and the Bingo Brown series as well as Summer of the Swans.

Cleary, Beverly My Own Two Feet and a sequel A Girl from Yamhill Ramona’s creator and don’t miss Emily’s Runaway Imagination.

Dahl, Roald, Boy: Tales of Childhood James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda et al creator tells tales on himself.

Fleischman, Sid The Abracadabra Kid Newbery winner for The Whipping Boy who tells of his early life as a magician and how he became a writer. By the Great Horn Spoon is another of his popular books.

Fritz, Jean Homesick: My Own Story Many children learn of the heroes of American history from Jean Fritz. Here is her own story, beginning in pre-War China.

Lewin, Ted I Was a Teenage Professional Wrestler Illustrator Ted Lewin, who has a Caldecott Honor Medal to his name, made enough at pro wrestling to get himself through art school.

Little, Jean Little By Little: A Writer’s Education and the sequel Stars Come Out A novelist with a fine hand at ‘growing up’ stories, Jean Little’s own story is just right for young people who move to new places–she immigrated to Canada from Asia as a child–or who deal with a disability–early on she began losing her sight.)

Paulsen, Gary Woodsong A three-time Newbery winner–for Hatchet, Dog Song, The Winter Room–tells the true story of his life in the Minnesota North Woods training dogs for sled races.

Peet, Bill Bill Peet: An Autobiography Bill Peet, who writes and illustrates books for the 4-8 set as a rule, began as an illustrator for Walt Disney–the real Walt Disney. His own story combines a conversational text with energetic, often comical, illustrations. In describing his work as a Disney animator, the pictures include many characters from popular films.

Sleator, William Oddballs Weird story writer has weird, funny family. For early teens, though Sleator often does science fiction and fantasy, like The Boy Who Reversed Himself, for 9-12s.

Zindel, Paul The Pigman and Me A magical writer tells a down-to-earth tale.

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