Jon Scieszka

Jon Scieszka isn't afraid to turn fairy tales inside out or introduce beef snack sticks into his stories. With titles like Math Curse, Science Verse, and Summer Reading Is Killing Me, Scieszka knows how to tell a good story, get a good laugh, and engage the reluctant reader. He and illustrator Lane Smith have collaborated on a number of bestselling picture books, including The True Story of the Three Little Pigs! and The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. In 2002 Scieszka founded the Guys Read literacy program to "help boys become better readers, better students, better guys."

The True Story of Jon Scieszka

Jon Scieszka was born in Flint, Michigan in 1954. He was one of six Scieszka brothers who grew up "wrestling in the living room, fighting at the dinner table, and taping up the babysitter." During his Catholic school years, Jon told jokes in the back of class but managed to steer clear of the nuns' rulers. After attending the Culver Military Academy for high school, Scieszka studied pre-medicine at Albion College in Michigan.

After finishing college Scieszka decided to become a writer instead of a doctor. He moved to New York City, earned a master's degree in fiction writing, and started painting apartments. Eventually, he became an elementary school teacher and spent the next ten years in the classroom. While teaching second graders, Scieszka realized that he still wanted to be a writer, but for children instead of adults.

Jon Scieszka received numerous rejection letters from children's publishers until his wife put him in touch with illustrator Lane Smith. Smith illustrated one of Scieszka's manuscripts and the result was a bestselling picture book called The True Story of the Three Little Pigs! After their initial success, the mischievous duo teamed up again to create The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, which won a Caldecott Honor award in 1993. Since then, Scieszka has enjoyed his new career as a children's book author and has written many more favorites, including the popular Time Warp Trio series.

Jon Scieszka and his wife live in Brooklyn, New York. They have one son, one daughter, and one cat.

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