Jack Prelutsky was named the nation's first Children's Poet Laureate by the Poetry Foundation. His poetry is recited, laughed over, and memorized by children across the country, who love his inventive wordplay and unpredictable rhymes. He has written more than fifty books of verse, including the immensely popular It's Raining Pigs & Noodles, A Pizza the Size of the Sun, Something Big Has Been Here, and The New Kid on the Block. His poetry books for younger readers include In Aunt Giraffe's Green Garden, What a Day It Was at School!, Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant, If Not for the Cat, The Frogs Wore Red Suspenders, and Scranimals. Jack Prelutsky lives with his wife in Washington State.

The Children's Poet Laureate award is given in recognition of a career devoted to writing extraordinary poetry for the young child. The award aims to raise awareness of children's natural receptivity to poetry and that they are its most appreciative audience, especially when poems are written with them in mind.

On September 27, 2006, at a ceremony in Millennium Park in Chicago, Jack Prelutsky was named the nation's first Children's Poet Laureate by the Poetry Foundation. Prelutsky will serve a two-year tenure as Children's Poet Laureate: Consultant in Children's Poetry to the Poetry Foundation. He received a $25,000 cash prize and the Children's Poet Laureate Medallion, which includes the inscription "Permit a child to join," taken from an Emily Dickinson poem.

Prelutsky, the beloved author of more than fifty books of verse and editor of several poetry anthologies, has charmed children and adults with his witty, musical poems for nearly forty years. His books have combined to sell well over a million copies, and his works have been translated into several languages.

Read an interview with Jack Prelutsky!