John D. Fitzgerald facts for kids

John Dennis Fitzgerald (February 3, 1906 – May 21, 1988) was an American author. He is most famous for his exciting children's books, especially The Great Brain series.

John D. Fitzgerald's Life

John D. Fitzgerald was born in Price, Utah, in 1906. His father was Irish and Catholic, and his mother was from Scandinavia and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. John had two older brothers, Thomas and William, and an older sister, Isabelle. He also had two younger brothers, Charles and Gerald.

When he was 18, in 1925, John left Utah. He tried many different jobs, like playing in a jazz band, working at a bank, and even working for a steel company.

Becoming a Writer

John Fitzgerald published his first novel for adults, Papa Married a Mormon, in 1955. This book was about life in Utah in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He also wrote other novels for adults and had many stories printed in different magazines. He even helped write two textbooks about how to write creative stories.

In the 1960s, Fitzgerald started writing books for children. This is when he created his very popular series, The Great Brain.

The Great Brain Series

The characters in The Great Brain series are based on people from John Fitzgerald's own family and hometown. The main character, Tom D., is based on his real-life older brother, Thomas.

The books are like a collection of short stories. In these stories, Tom, known as "The Great Brain," uses his clever mind to solve problems for his community. Sometimes he even uses smart tricks to teach people important lessons. There are eight books in this series. The last book was published after Fitzgerald passed away, using notes he had left behind.

• The Great Brain (Dial Press, 1967)
• More Adventures of the Great Brain (Dial Press, 1969)
• Me and My Little Brain (Dial Press, 1971)
• The Great Brain at the Academy (Dial Press, 1972)
• The Great Brain Reforms (Dial Press, 1973)
• The Return of the Great Brain (Dial Press, 1974)
• The Great Brain Does It Again (Dial Press, 1976)
• The Great Brain Is Back (Dial Press, 1995)

Other Books by John D. Fitzgerald

Besides The Great Brain series, John D. Fitzgerald wrote other interesting books:

• Papa Married a Mormon (Prentice-Hall, 1955)
• Mamma's Boarding House (W.H. Allen, 1958) — This book is a follow-up to Papa Married a Mormon.
• Uncle Will and the Fitzgerald Curse (Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1961)
• Brave Buffalo Fighter (Bethlehem Books, 1973)
• Private Eye (T. Nelson, 1974)