About Jack Prelutsky
Jack Prelutsky (born September 8, 1940) is an American writer of children's poetry who has published over 50 poetry collections. He served as the first U.S. Children's Poet Laureate (now called the Young People's Poet Laureate) from 2006 to 2008 when the Poetry Foundation established the award. == Early life == Jack Prelutsky was born on September 8, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York, to Charles Prelutsky, an electrician, and Dorothea Prelutsky, a homemaker. He attended local public schools in the Bronx, hated the experience, and was bored in class. Prelutsky claims to have hated poetry when he was younger. He stated that "When I was a kid, I didn't like poetry, because I had a teacher who didn't like poetry. She was a good teacher because she taught me not to like it, too." After teachers discovered he had musical talents, they suggested that he attend The High School of Music & Art. He graduated in 1958, and went on to Hunter College for two years. He failed English three times before dropping out. Before becoming a writer, he worked odd jobs, including cab driver, furniture mover, busboy, potter, woodworker, and door-to-door salesman.
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