Alvin Schwartz (April 25, 1927 – March 14, 1992) was an American author and journalist who wrote more than fifty books dedicated to and dealing with topics such as folklore and word play, many of which were intended for young readers. He is the author of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill your Bones.
Life and career
Schwartz was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Gussie and Harry Schwartz, a taxi driver. After a stint in the navy, Schwartz became interested in writing. He received his bachelor's degree from Colby College and a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University. He reported for The Binghamton Press from 1951 to 1955. During his professional writing career his work had been published by a variety of firms, including Lippincott, Bantam Books, Farrar Strauss, and Harper Collins.
A series of his books on folklore for children were illustrated by Glen Rounds and each featured a type of folklore: the first, A Twister of Twists, a Tangler of Tongues, was published in 1972. Others in this series included Tomfoolery, which featured wordplay; Witcracks which was about smart-aleck riddles and jokes; and Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat, about superstitions.
He is best known for the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series, which featured gruesome, nightmarish illustrations by Stephen Gammell. The series was America's most frequently challenged book (or book series) for library inclusion of 1990-1999.
Some of his other books, such as When I Grew Up Long Ago, were aimed at an older audience, and presented glimpses of life in the United States during the late 19th century and the early 20th century.
Schwartz died of lymphoma in Princeton, New Jersey on March 14, 1992, six weeks before his 65th birthday. Schwartz was survived by his wife and four children.
Other Books
In A Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories
Ghosts!: Ghostly Tales from Folklore
Stories to Tell a Cat
And the Green Grass Grew All around: Folk Poetry from Everyone
Gold and Silver, Silver and Gold: Tales of Hidden Treasure
I Saw You in the Bathtub and Other Folk Rhymes
Telling Fortunes: Love Magic, Dream Signs, and Other Ways to Learn the Future
Tales of Trickery from the Land of Spoof
All of Our Noses Are Here and Other Noodle Tales
Cat's Elbow and Other Secret Languages
Ten Copycats in a Boat and Other Riddles
Fat Man in a Fur Coat: And Other Bear Stories
Unriddling: All Sorts of Riddles to Puzzle Your Guessary
Busy Buzzing Bumblebees and Other Tongue Twisters
There Is a Carrot in My Ear and Other Noodle Tales
Flapdoodle: Pure Nonsense from American Folklore
Chin Music: Tall Talk and Other Talk
When I Grew Up Long Ago
Kickle Sniffers and Other Fearsome Critters
Witcracks: Jokes and Jests from American Folklore
Whoppers: Tall Tales and Other Lies Collected from American Folklore
Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat: Superstitions and Other Beliefs
"A Twister of Twists, A Tangler of Tongues"