Jack Prelutsky Biography

Jack Prelutsky, Poet
Occup.Poet
FromUSA
SpouseCarol Prelutsky
BornSeptember 8, 1940
New York City, New York, USA
Age83 years
Early Life and Education
Jack Prelutsky was born upon September 8, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He matured in a working-class household with his moms and dads, Charles Prelutsky and Dorothea Prelutsky. Revealing an early affinity for language and art, Jack discovered an innovative outlet in poetry after his instructor encouraged him to carry his energy into composing.

Although he had revealed an interest in music and pursued it in his youth, Jack eventually discovered his real calling in poetry. He went to Hunter College in New York City, where he studied voice and classical music. Nevertheless, he understood that his true passion lay in writing and smart wordplay.

Early Career
After college, Jack Prelutsky worked a variety of jobs, consisting of cab driver, building and construction employee, and typist. Throughout this time, he continued to compose poetry, eventually putting together a collection of his work. In the early 1960s, he began sending his poems to numerous literary magazines and newspapers, periodically making publication.

It was during this period that he satisfied and worked together with the esteemed American poet and editor, William Cole. Cole, who saw capacity in Prelutsky's special voice and style, assisted him edit his first poetry manuscript and suggested it for publication.

Increase to Fame
In 1967, at around 27 years of age, Jack Prelutsky's first book of poetry, entitled A Gopher in the Garden, was published. This volume marked the beginning of his illustrious profession as a poet and children's author. His creative, humorous, and engaging design caught the hearts of kids and grownups alike, making him among the most precious poets of his generation.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Prelutsky continued to compose and release a steady stream of poetry collections, strengthening his credibility as an extraordinary and prolific writer. Amongst his early acclaimed works are Nightmares: Poems to Trouble Your Sleep (1976) and The Headless Horseman Rides Tonight: More Poems to Trouble Your Sleep (1980).

Later Career and Success
Over the years, Jack Prelutsky has actually authored and edited over 70 books, consisting of collections of his original poems, anthologies of other poets' works, and poetic adaptations of popular songs and stories. Some of his most popular works consist of The New Kid on the Block (1984), It's Raining Pigs & Noodles (2000), and Be Glad Your Nose is on Your Face and Other Poems (2008).

In 2006, Prelutsky was awarded the prominent title of the first-ever Children's Poet Laureate by the Poetry Foundation, serving in that capacity up until 2008. This accolade was a testimony to his substantial contributions to the world of kids's literature and his capability to motivate and cultivate a love of reading and poetry in young readers.

Personal Life
Jack Prelutsky married Carolynn M. S. Prelutsky, and they presently live in Seattle, Washington. Jack is also an accomplished singer and musician, often performing his tunes and readings at live events and workshops throughout the United States.

Tradition and Influence
Through his whimsical, amusing, and frequently humorous poetry, Jack Prelutsky has actually entertained and educated generations of readers. His work continues to inspire emerging kids's poets and educators worldwide, as they seek to engage and support young minds through the power of language and imagination.

Our collection contains 24 quotes who is written / told by Jack.

Related authors: Lawrence Taylor (Athlete)

Jack Prelutsky Famous Works:
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24 Famous quotes by Jack Prelutsky

Small: Im usually working on eight or 10 things at once
"I'm usually working on eight or 10 things at once"
Small: I write the poems first, with only a few exceptions for odd reasons, where Im given the illustration fi
"I write the poems first, with only a few exceptions for odd reasons, where I'm given the illustration first"
Small: I always knew would be some sort of artist, but didnt know what
"I always knew would be some sort of artist, but didn't know what"
Small: Ive been influenced by poets as diverse as Dylan Thomas, Lewis Carroll, and Edgar Allan Poe
"I've been influenced by poets as diverse as Dylan Thomas, Lewis Carroll, and Edgar Allan Poe"
Small: Im never bored
"I'm never bored"
Small: I accept challenges, I have always done that in writing
"I accept challenges, I have always done that in writing"
Small: We all need ways to express ourselves, and poetry is one of mine
"We all need ways to express ourselves, and poetry is one of mine"
Small: My reading is extremely eclectic. Lately Ive been teaching myself computer graphics, so Im reading a lo
"My reading is extremely eclectic. Lately I've been teaching myself computer graphics, so I'm reading a lot about that. I read books of trivia, of facts"
Small: Children seem naturally drawn to poetry - its some combination of the rhyme, rhythm, and the words them
"Children seem naturally drawn to poetry - it's some combination of the rhyme, rhythm, and the words themselves"
Small: Theres not too much difference between writing a picture book and writing a collection of a hundred poe
"There's not too much difference between writing a picture book and writing a collection of a hundred poems or so, except that the bigger books take a lot longer to do"
Small: I keep a guitar around while writing and will improvise music. I do this for several reasons, such as t
"I keep a guitar around while writing and will improvise music. I do this for several reasons, such as that it's fun, and sometimes it helps me with the meter"
Small: I invented animals and birds - I had about two dozen. After working on them for six months, I sat down
"I invented animals and birds - I had about two dozen. After working on them for six months, I sat down and just for fun wrote two dozen poems to accompany the drawings. It was for no one to every see, but a friend sent me in to an editor"
Small: When I began writing, I didnt read any other childrens poets... I didnt want to be influenced until Id
"When I began writing, I didn't read any other children's poets... I didn't want to be influenced until I'd found my own voice. Now I read them all"
Small: My wife used to tell me one of my best qualities was that my feet dont smell, but I remember my brother
"My wife used to tell me one of my best qualities was that my feet don't smell, but I remember my brother's did when we were kids"
Small: I would go to sketch groups and draw. I really enjoyed the subject matter, but I wasnt good at it
"I would go to sketch groups and draw. I really enjoyed the subject matter, but I wasn't good at it"
Small: I look for poetry in English because its the only language I read
"I look for poetry in English because it's the only language I read"
Small: Frankly, writing poetry for children is plain old fun, and I consider myself blessed to have such a del
"Frankly, writing poetry for children is plain old fun, and I consider myself blessed to have such a delightful career"
Small: After Id produced about two dozen pen and ink drawings, one evening I decided that they needed poems to
"After I'd produced about two dozen pen and ink drawings, one evening I decided that they needed poems to accompany them. I still have no idea where that notion came from, but it took me about two hours to produce verses for these creatures"
Small: Poetry seems to sink into us the way prose doesnt. I can still quote verses I learned when I was very y
"Poetry seems to sink into us the way prose doesn't. I can still quote verses I learned when I was very young, but I have trouble remembering one line of a novel I just finished reading"
Small: Otherwise I dont read much adult poetry at all, because Im not smart enough and mostly I dont get it
"Otherwise I don't read much adult poetry at all, because I'm not smart enough and mostly I don't get it"
Small: Writing gives me the opportunity to explore ideas, play with language, solve problems, use my imaginati
"Writing gives me the opportunity to explore ideas, play with language, solve problems, use my imagination, and draw on my own childhood"
Small: Then I decided to draw from and on my own imagination, and everything came out perfect
"Then I decided to draw from and on my own imagination, and everything came out perfect"
Small: Im working now on a collection of Shakespearean sonnets, about 100 of them, that I may publish if anyon
"I'm working now on a collection of Shakespearean sonnets, about 100 of them, that I may publish if anyone's interested. My take on life is a little different from the bard's"
Small: Im mostly influenced by life, whats around me, and my own childhood
"I'm mostly influenced by life, what's around me, and my own childhood"