This booklist was contributed by Appleton Public Library Children's Services Staff, 10/07
26 Fairmount Avenue(1999)Children's author-illustrator Tomie De Paola describes his experiences at home and in school when he was a boy.
The Abracadabra Kid: a Writer's Life(1996)The autobiography of the Newbery award-winning children's author who set out from childhood to be a magician.
Best Wishes(1992)Children's author Cynthia Rylant describes her life and writing process and how they are interwoven.
Bill Peet: an Autobiography(1989)The well-known author and illustrator relates the story of his life and work.
A Bookworm Who Hatched(1992)Noted children's author and storyteller Verna Aardema recounts her life and describes how her daily activities and writing process are interwoven.
Boy: Tales of Childhood(1984)Presents humorous anecdotes from the author's childhood which includes summer vacations in Norway and an English boarding school.
Can you Imagine?(1997)The author of the Newbery Honor Book, "The Dark Thirty," describes her life, how she became a writer, how her family helps with her writing, and how she gets her ideas.
Caught by the Sea: my Life on Boats(2001)Gary Paulsen, author of Hatchet and other adventure novels, tells about his lifelong love of sailing, boats he has owned, and the storms, sharks, and peaceful lagoons he has experienced on his voyages.
China Homecoming(1985)The author returns to China, to relive her memories of her youth and to witness the many historical and social changes that have taken place since she left the country in 1928.
Down a Sunny Dirt Road(2002)In alternating chapters Stan and Jan Berenstain, creators of the Berenstain Bears, tell their own stories from early childhood until their marriage, then continue the tale together to the present day.
Firetalking(1994)The Author explains how childhood evenings of "firetalking" with her Russian and Irish grandparents formed the basis of many of her stories.
Five Pages a Day: a Writer's Journey(2002)A biography of the author of numerous books for young people, describing her childhood bout with polio, how she became a writer, family relationships, and the importance of writing in her life.
Flora and Tiger: 19 Very Short Stories from my Life(1997)The author recalls experiences from his childhood in Germany and his later life in the United States, all in some way connected with various animals.
A Girl from Yamhill: a Memoir(1988)Follows the popular children's author from her childhood years in Oregon through high school and into young adulthood, highlighting her family life and her growing interest in writing.
Guts: the True Stories behind Hatchet and the Brian Books(2001)The author relates incidents in his life and how they inspired parts of his books about the character, Brian Robeson.
How Angel Peterson Got His Name(2003)Author Gary Paulsen relates tales from his youth in a small town in northwestern Minnesota in the late 1940s and early 1950s, such as skiing behind a souped-up car and imitating daredevil Evel Knievel.
In Flight With David McPhail: a Creative Autobiography(1996)The author describes how he goes about the process of writing and illustrating books.
The Invisible Thread: an Autobiography(1991)Children's author, Yoshiko Uchida, describes growing up in Berkeley, California, as a Nisei, second generation Japanese American, and her family's internment in a Nevada concentration camp during World War II.
It Came from Ohio: my Life as a Writer(1997)A best-selling author tells kids everything they ever wanted to know about him--and Goosebumps! What was R.L. Stine like as a kid? How did he start writing books? Where does he get all his scary ideas? These and many more questions are answered in this humorous, fast-paced biography.Syndetic Solutions
Knots in my Yo-Yo String: the Autobiography of a Kid(1998)This Italian-American Newbery Medalist presents a humorous account of his childhood and youth in Norristown, Pennsylvania.
A Letter from Phoenix Farm(1992)An autobiographical account of the prominent author Jane Yolen and how her daily life and writing process are interwoven.
Little by Little: a Writer's Education(1987)
Looking Back: a Book of Memories(1998)Using family photographs and quotes from her books, the author provides glimpses into her life.
The Making of a Writer(2002)The author recalls events from her childhood that contributed to her development as a writer.
My Diary, My World(1981)Drawing on her diaries and journals written from the time she was 12 until she was almost 20, the author depicts her life as daughter of a well-to-do-upstate New York family and her determination to become a writer despite her family's objections.
My Life in Dog Years(1998)The author describes some of the dogs that have had special places in his life, including his first dog, Snowball, in the Phillippines; Dirk, who protected him from bullies; and Cookie, who saved his life.
My Own Two Feet(1995)Follows the popular children's author through college years during the Depression; jobs including that of librarian; marriage; and writing and publication of her first book, "Henry Huggins."
Nature! Wild and Wonderful(1997)A prominent children's books author shares his life, his daily activities, and his creative process, showing how all are intertwined.
On the Bus with Joanna Cole: a Creative Autobiography(1996)The author discusses her life, how she came to be a writer, where she gets her ideas from, and what is involved in producing a book.
On the Way Home: the Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Missouri(1962)Describes the sights and events a frontier family encounters travelling from South Dakota to the Ozarks.
One Man Show(1997)In this autobiographical account an author and illustrator of children's books shares his life, daily activities, and creative process, and shows how all are intertwined.
Puppies, Dogs, and Blue Northers: Reflections on being Raised by a Pack of Sled Dogs(1996)Minnesota author and dog musher Gary Paulsen reflects on the growth of his sled dogs as he and his animals discover the world around them.
Small Steps: the Year I Got Polio(1996)The author describes her battle against polio when she was thirteen and her efforts to overcome its debilitating effects.
Surprising Myself(1992)Fritz, a well-known author of books for young people, describes her daily life and the way she writes.
The Tarantula in my Purse: and 172 other Wild Pets(1996)A collection of autobiographical stories about raising a houseful of children and wild pets including crows, skunks, and raccoons.
Under the Royal Palms: a Childhood in Cuba(1998)The author recalls her life and impressions growing up in Cuba.
West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder(1974)A selection of letters by Laura Ingalls Wilder to her husband in which she describes the highlights of her visit to the west coast in 1915.
Woodsong(1990)For a rugged outdoor man and his family, life in northern Minnesota is a wild experience involving wolves, deer, and the sled dogs that make their way of life possible. Includes an account of the author's first Iditarod, a dogsled race across Alaska.