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A video interview with

Jack Prelutsky

Jack Prelutsky writes wonderfully wacky poems that children find irresistable. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Jack Prelutsky explains why he used to equate reading poetry with eating liver and considered writing poetry a hazard to his health.

Click on the links below to watch this interview‡ online or to download it. You can also read the interview transcript or a short biography of Jack Prelutsky, or see a selected list of his children's books.

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Peer pressure (:40)
During junior high, Jack Prelutsky believed that poetry was hazardous to his health. Watch this video clip to find out why.
Will write for shelter (1:30)
In this video clip, Prelutsky explains how his first book helped keep him off the street.
Paying your dues (1:30)
Jack Prelutsky worked a variety of odd jobs to support his writing and artistic pursuits.
Collaborating with Dr. Seuss (1:30)
When Prelutsky was chosen to complete one of the late Dr. Seuss' unfinished manuscripts, it actually helped to save his own life.
From syrupy to silly (2:00)
In this video clip, Prelutsky explains how children's poetry has evolved over the last century.
Stacks of notebooks (1:30)
Jack Prelutsky jots down poems in restaurants, on airplanes, and even in bathrooms.
Learning through laughing (2:30)
Find out how Jack Prelutsky makes six-syllable words fun.
There's a key to every poem (1:30)
In this video clip, Prelutsky gives advice to teachers about how they can include poetry in their classrooms.

‡ This video clip will appear in Windows Media Player, which most computers already have installed, or you can download it now. Macintosh users can download the free Flip4Mac playback file, which allows you to play Windows Media files in your Quicktime player.

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