Kid Authors

Did you know that Sam Clemens aka Mark Twain loved to skip school and make mischief (with his best friend Tom, of course!)? That a young J. R. R. Tolkien was bitten by a huge tarantula—or as he called it, “a spider as big as a dragon”? Or that toddler Zora Neale Hurston took her first steps when a wild hog entered her house and started chasing her?

Every great author started out as a kid. Before the best sellers, fan clubs, and beloved stories we know today, the world’s most celebrated writers had regular-kid problems just like you. Kid Authors shares the funny and completely true childhood stories of 15 celebrated writers, revealing how their earliest adventures, challenges, and interests helped shape the books readers still love today.

Written with humor by David Stabler and filled with colorful cartoon illustrations by Doogie Horner, these short biographies make literary history lively, surprising, and relatable. Perfect for curious readers and aspiring storytellers ages 8–12, Kid Authors shows that imagination can begin anywhere—and that every accomplished writer once had to find the courage to start.

Inside you’ll discover:

• Fifteen featured authors including Beverly Cleary, J. R. R. Tolkien, Zora Neale Hurston, Mark Twain, Roald Dahl, J. K. Rowling, Jules Verne, Lewis Carroll, and Stan Lee
• Funny mishaps, family stories, school experiences, and early creative interests
• Full-color cartoon illustrations on nearly every page
• Short, inspiring biographies suited to independent and reluctant readers
• A fun resource for author studies, book reports, classrooms, homeschooling, and family reading

A fantastic gift for creative children and enthusiastic readers!

Meet the kids behind the books and discover how everyday experiences, wild imaginations, and the courage to keep creating can grow into extraordinary stories.