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Jack Prelutsky

b. 1940
Black and white headshot of writer Jack Prelutsky.
Random House

Jack Prelutsky is a creator of inventive poems for children and adults alike. He served as the Poetry Foundation’s Children’s Poet Laureate from 2006 to 2008. Prelutsky grew up in the Bronx, and when he was young he studied classical music; though he decided to concentrate on writing instead of pursuing a career as an opera singer, he continues to sing.

In a Scholastic.com interview, when asked where his ideas come from, Prelutsky said, “Everywhere! Everything I see or hear can become a poem. Several toys in my studio have turned into poems. I remember things that happened when I was a kid … Or I write about things I like or don’t like. I love spaghetti and wrote a poem about it.” Fabulous creatures and people inhabit his poems: the umbrellaphant, Uggs, and, in Scranimals (2002), banacondas, broccolions, and “the detested radishark.”

He has written more than 70 children’s books, often working with well-known illustrators such as Garth Williams, Arnold Lobel, and Marilyn Hafner. His poetry books include Stardines Swim High Across the Sky: and Other Poems (2013), The Swamps of Sleethe: Poems From Beyond the Solar System (2009), and Be Glad Your Nose Is on Your Face And Other Poems (2008). He has also edited collections of poetry for children, including The 20th Century Children’s Poetry Treasury (1999).

Prelutsky lives in Seattle, Washington with his wife, Carolyn.

Poems by Jack Prelutsky
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Bibliography

  • (Translator) Rudolf Neumann, The Bad Bear,illustrated by Eva Johanna Rubin, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1967.
  • (Translator) Heinrich Hoffman, The Mountain Bounder,Macmillan (New York, NY), 1967.
  • A Gopher in the Garden and Other Animal Poems(also see below), illustrated by Robert Leydenfrost, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1967.
  • (Translator) No End of Nonsense: Humorous Verses,illustrated by Wilfried Blecher, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1968.
  • Lazy Blackbird and Other Verses,illustrated by Janosch, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1969.
  • (Translator) Three Saxon Nobles and Other Verses,illustrated by Rubin, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1969.
  • (Translator) James Kruess, The Proud Wooden Drummer,illustrated by Rubin, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1969.
  • The Terrible Tiger,illustrated by Arnold Lobel, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1970.
  • Toucans Two and Other Poems (also see below), illustrated by Jose Aruego, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1970, published in England as Zoo Doings and Other Poems,Hamish Hamilton (London, England), 1971.
  • Circus!,illustrated by Arnold Lobel, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1974.
  • The Pack Rat's Day and Other Poems(also see below), illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1974.
  • Nightmares: Poems to Trouble Your Sleep,illustrated by Arnold Lobel, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1976.
  • It's Halloween,illustrated by Marylin Hafner, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1977.
  • The Snopp on the Sidewalk and Other Poems,illustrated by Byron Barton, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1977.
  • The Mean Old Mean Hyena,illustrated by Arnold Lobel, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1978.
  • The Queen of Eene,illustrated by Victoria Chess, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1978.
  • Rolling Harvey Down the Hill,illustrated by Victoria Chess, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1980.
  • The Headless Horseman Rides Tonight: More Poems to Trouble Your Sleep,illustrated by Arnold Lobel, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1980.
  • Rainy, Rainy Saturday,illustrated by Marylin Hafner, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1980.
  • (Adapter) Barbro Lindgren, The Wild Baby,illustrated by Eva Eriksson, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1981.
  • It's Christmas,illustrated by Marylin Hafner, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1981.
  • The Sheriff of Rottenshot: Poems by Jack Prelutsky,illustrated by Victoria Chess, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1982.
  • Kermit's Garden of Verses,illustrated by Bruce McNally, Random House (New York, NY), 1982.
  • It's Thanksgiving,illustrated by Marylin Hafner, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1982.
  • The Baby Uggs Are Hatching,illustrated by James Stevenson, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1982.
  • Zoo Doings: Animal Poems (includes A Gopher in the Garden and Other Animal Poems, Toucans Two and Other Poems, and The Pack Rat's Day and Other Poems), illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1983.
  • It's Valentine's Day,illustrated by Yossi Abolafia, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1983.
  • (Adapter) Barbro Lindgren, The Wild Baby Goes to Sea,illustrated by Eva Eriksson, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1983.
  • (Compiler and editor) The Random House Book of Poetry for Children,illustrated by Arnold Lobel, Random House (New York, NY), 1983.
  • It's Snowing! It's Snowing!,illustrated by Jeanne Titherington, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1984.
  • What I Did Last Summer,illustrated by Yossi Abolafia, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1984.
  • The New Kid on the Block,illustrated by James Stevenson, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1984.
  • My Parents Think I'm Sleeping,illustrated by Yossi Abolafia, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1985.
  • (Adapter) Barbro Lindgren, The Wild Baby Gets a Puppy,illustrated by Eva Eriksson, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1985.
  • Ride a Purple Pelican,illustrated by Garth Williams, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1986.
  • (Adapter) Rose Lagercrantz and Samuel Lagercrantz, Brave Little Pete of Geranium Street,illustrated by Eva Eriksson, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1986.
  • (Compiler and editor) Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young,illustrated by Marc Brown, Knopf (New York, NY), 1986.
  • Tyrannosaurus Was a Beast: Dinosaur Poems,illustrated by Arnold Lobel, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1988.
  • (Collector and editor) Poems of A. Nonny Mouse,illustrated by Henrik Drescher, Knopf (New York, NY), 1989.
  • Beneath a Blue Umbrella,illustrated by Garth Williams, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1990.
  • Something Big Has Been Here,illustrated by James Stevenson, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1990.
  • (Compiler and editor) For Laughing Out Loud,illustrated by Marjorie Priceman, Knopf (New York, NY), 1991.
  • Twickham Tweer (from The Sheriff of Rottenshot), illustrated by Eldon Doty, DLM, 1991.
  • There'll Be a Slight Delay: And Other Poems for Grown-ups,illustrations by Jack Ziegler, Morrow (New York, NY), 1991.
  • For Laughing Out Loud: Poems to Tickle Your Funnybone,illustrated by Marjorie Priceman, Knopf (New York, NY), 1991.
  • Jack Prelutsky's Sweet and Silly Muppet Poems,illustrated by Joe Ewers, Western Pub. Co. (Racine, WI), 1992.
  • A. Nonny Mouse Writes Again!: Poems,illustrated by Marjorie Priceman, Knopf (New York, NY), 1993.
  • The Dragons Are Singing Tonight,pictures by Peter Sis, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1993.
  • Nightmares: Poems to Trouble Your Sleep,illustrated by Arnold Lobel, Mulberry Books (New York, NY), 1993.
  • For Laughing Out Louder: More Poems to Tickle Your Funnybone,illustrated by Marjorie Priceman, Knopf (New York, NY), 1995.
  • A Pizza the Size of the Sun: Poems,drawings by James Stevenson, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1996.
  • Monday's Troll,pictures by Peter Sis, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1996.
  • Beauty of the Beast: Poems,illustrated by Meilo So, Knopf (New York, NY), 1997.
  • (Compiler) Dinosaur Dinner with a Slice of Alligator Pie: Favorite Poems,by Dennis Lee, illustrated by Debbie Tilley, Knopf (New York, NY), 1997.
  • (Selector) Imagine That!: Poems of Never-Was,illustrated by Kevin Hawkes, Knopf (New York, NY), 1998.
  • Dog Days: Rhymes around the Year,illustrated by Dyanna Wolcott, Knopf (New York, NY), 1999.
  • The Gargoyle on the Roof,pictures by Peter Sis, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 1999.
  • (Selector) The 20th Century Children's Poetry Treasury,Knopf (New York, NY), 1999.
  • Awful Ogre's Awful Day,pictures by Paul O. Zelinsky, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 2000.
  • It's Raining Pigs and Noodles: Poems,Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 2000.
  • The Frogs Wore Red Suspenders: Rhymes,pictures by Petra Mathers, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 2002.
  • Halloween Countdown,illustrated by Dan Yaccarino, HarperFestival (New York, NY), 2002.
  • Scranimals, illustrated by Peter Sis, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 2002.

Contributor to Hooray for Diffendoofer Day!, Knopf (New York, NY), 1998. Archives of Prelutsky's work are kept in the University of Southern Mississippi's De Grummond Collection and the University of Minnesota's Kerlan Collection.