Marilyn Singer facts for kids
Marilyn Singer (born October 3, 1948) is a famous author who writes many different kinds of books for kids and young adults. She writes exciting stories, true stories, picture books, and lots of poetry. Some of her poems are special because they are called reverso poems, which can be read forwards and backwards to mean different things!
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About Marilyn Singer
Marilyn Singer was born in the Bronx, New York City, on October 3, 1948. She grew up mostly in North Massapequa, Long Island, New York. She studied at Queens College, City University of New York, and also spent a year studying in England at the University of Reading. She earned degrees in English and communications.
Before becoming a full-time writer, Marilyn taught English in high schools in New York City. In 1974, she started writing. One day, while sitting in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, she got an idea for a story. It was about talking insect characters she had imagined when she was only eight years old!
People really liked her story, so she kept writing. In 1976, her first book, The Dog Who Insisted He Wasn't, was published. Since then, Marilyn Singer has written over one hundred books for children and young adults. Her books include many types of stories like realistic novels, fantasy adventures, non-fiction (true stories), fairy tales, picture books, mysteries, and poetry.
In 2023, Marilyn Singer even appeared as a contestant on the TV show Jeopardy!. Today, she lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York.
Marilyn Singer's Books
Marilyn Singer has written a huge variety of books. Here are some of her popular works:
Poetry Books
- Strange Place to Call Home (2012)
- The Superheroes Employment Agency (2012)
- The boy who cried alien! (2012)
- A Stick is an Excellent Thing (2012)
- Every Day’s a Dog’s Day (2012)
- A Full Moon is Rising (2011)
- Twosomes: Love Poems from the Animal Kingdom (2011)
- '"Tricera-flops" in Dizzy Dinosaurs (2011)
- Mirror, Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse (2010)
- "In My Hand" and "Spinners," in Falling Down the Page (2009)
- "In Here, Kitty, Kitty" in Incredible Inventions (2009)
- First Food Fight This Fall and Other School Poems (2008)
- Shoe Bop (2008)
- "Making Soup," "Best Friend," and "Singing Down the Sun" in Lessons for Climb Inside a Poem (2008)
- "Beach Time" and "Stargazing" in Here's a Little Poem (2007)
- "Diamond Dark" in Faith and Doubt (2007)
- "Clay" in Behind the Museum Door (2007)
- "For Me" in Poetry Aloud Here! (2006)
- Monday on the Mississippi (2005)
- Central Heating: Poems about Fire and Warmth (2005)
- "Haircut" in Oh, No! Where Are My Pants? (2005)
- "Heart Art" in Valentine H arts (2005)
- Creature Carnival (2004)
- How to Cross a Pond: Poems About Water (2003)
- Fireflies at Midnight (2003)
- The Company of Crows (2002)
- Footprints on the Roof: Poems About the Earth (2002)
- Monster Museum (2001)
- On the Same Day in March
- All We Needed to Say: Poems About School (1996)
- "Kumquats" in Food Fight (1996)
- The Morgans Dream (1995)
- Please Don't Squeeze Your Boa, Noah! (1995)
- Family Reunion (1994)
- Sky Words (1994)
- It's Hard to Read a Map with a Beagle on Your Lap (1993)
- In My Tent (1992)
- Nine O'Clock Lullaby (1991)
- Turtle in July (1989)
Picture Books
- Tallulah's Tutu (2011)
- Tallulah's Solo (2012)
- Tallulah's Toe Shoes (2013)
- Tallulah's Nutcracker (2013)
- Tallulah's Tap Shoes (2015)
- Tallulah’s Ice Skates (2018)
- Have You Heard about Lady Bird? Poems about Our First Ladies (2018)
- What is Your Dog Doing? (2011)
- I'm Getting a Checkup (2009)
- I'm Your Bus (2009)
- City Lullaby (2007)
- Let's Build a Clubhouse (2006)
- Block Party Today! (2004)
- Boo Hoo Boo-Boo (2002)
- Quiet Night (2002)
- Didi and Daddy on the Promenade (2001)
- Fred's Bed (2001)
- The One and Only Me (2000)
- Solomon Sneezes (1999)
- Good Day, Good Night (1998)
- Chester, the Out-of-Work Dog (1992)
- Minnie's Yom Kippur Birthday (1989)
- Archer Armadillo's Secret Room (1985)
- Will You Take Me to Town on Strawberry Day? (1981)
- The Pickle Plan (1978)
- The Dog Who Insisted He Wasn't (1976)
Non-Fiction Books
- Caterpillars (2011)
- Eggs (2008)
- Venom (2007)
- Cats to the Rescue (2006)
- What Stinks? (2006)
- Tough Beginnings: How Baby Animals Survive (2001)
- A Pair of Wings (2001)
- A Dog's Gotta Do What a Dog's Gotta Do: Dogs At Work (2000)
- Prairie Dogs Kiss and Lobsters Wave: How Animals Say Hello (1998)
- Bottoms Up! A Book About Rear Ends (1997)
- A Wasp is Not a Bee (1995)
- Exotic Birds (1991)
- The Fanatic's Ecstatic, Aromatic Guide to Onions, Garlic, Shallots and Leeks (1981)
Novels for Children
- The Circus Lunicus (2000)
- Josie to the Rescue (1999)
- Big Wheel (1993)
- California Demon (1992)
- Charmed (1990)
- Twenty Ways to Lose Your Best Friend (1990)
- Mitzi Meyer, Fearless Warrior Queen (1987)
- Ghost Host (1987)
- Lizzie Silver of Sherwood Forest (1986)
- Tarantulas on the Brain (1982)
- It Can't Hurt Forever (1978)
Mysteries for Children
- Sam and Dave Mysteries:
- The Hoax on You (1989)
- The Case of the Fixed Election (1989)
- The Case of the Cackling Car (1985)
- A Clue in Code (1985)
- The Case of the Sabotaged School Play (1984)
- Leroy is Missing (1984)
- Samantha Spayed Mysteries:
- Where There's a Will, There's a Wag (1986)
- A Nose for Trouble (1985)
- The Fido Frame-up (1983)
Fiction for Young Adults
- Make Me Over: Eleven Original Stories About Transforming Ourselves (2005)
- "Word of the Day" in Twice Told: Original Stories Inspired by Original Artwork (2006)
- Face Relations: Eleven Stories About Seeing Beyond Color (2004)
- "First Position" in Sports Shorts (2005)
- "Shattered" in Shattered: Stories of Children and War (2002)
- I Believe in Water: Twelve Brushes With Religion (2000)
- Stay True: Short Stories for Strong Girls (1998)
- Deal with a Ghost (1997)
- Storm Rising (1989)
- Several Kinds of Silence (1988)
- Horsemaster (1985)
- The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth (1983)
- The First Few Friends (1981)
- No Applause, Please (1977)
Fairy Tales
- The Maiden on the Moor (1995)
- In the Palace of the Ocean King (1995)
- The Painted Fan (1994)
- The Golden Heart of Winter (1991)
Forthcoming Books
- Cat-Chasing Day (a poetry collection about holidays for dogs)
- The Boy Who Cried Alien (a "silent movie" in poems)
- Follow Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems
- Rutherford B., Who Was He?
- I'm Gonna Climb a Mountain in My Patent Leather Shoes
Awards and Recognition
Marilyn Singer's books have won many awards and honors. Here are some of them:
- Mirror, Mirror
- Cybil Award for Poetry (2011)
- ALA Notable (2011)
- CLA/NCTE Notable (2011)
- Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best (2009) for Eggs and First Food Fight This Fall
- Orbis Pictus Honor Book (2008) for Venom
- New York Public Library's One Hundred Best Titles for Reading and Sharing (2007) for Venom
- Time Magazine's Top 10 Children's Books (2007) for City Lullaby
- NSTA-CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book (2007) for What Stinks?
- ALSC Notable Book (2005) for Central Heating
- Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book (2005) for Creature Carnival
- NSTA-CBA Outstanding Science Trade Book (2002) for Tough Beginnings: How Baby Animals Survive
- Canadian Children's Book Centre "Our Choice" Book (2002)
- Children's Literature Choice Book (2002)
- Skipping Stones Honor Award Book (2002)
- Animal Behavior Society Children's Book Award (2001) for A Pair of Wings
- New York Public Library's "Best Books for the Teen Age" (2001) for I Believe in Water: Twelve Brushes with Religion
- Finalist, YA category, Edgar Award (1998) for Deal with a Ghost
- NCTE Notable Book (1989) for Turtle in July
- Best Illustrated Children's Books of 1989, The New York Times for Turtle in July
- Best Children's Books of 1989, Time magazine for Turtle in July
- ALA Best Book for Young Adults (1983) for The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth
- Maud Hart Lovelace Award (1983) for It Can't Hurt Forever
- Children's Choice Award (IRA/CBC) for The Dog Who Insisted He Wasn't
More About Marilyn Singer
Marilyn Singer has shared some interesting thoughts about her writing. She once said that many people think of her as a "nature poet" because she loves writing about the natural world. But she also enjoys creating characters and telling stories from their point of view. She also likes to write silly poems!
Marilyn writes for several hours every day, usually with a pen in her hand. She enjoys writing in different places like cafes, restaurants, and even on subways.
