Dan gutman biography

PERSONAL:

Born October 19, 1955, in New York, NY; son of Sidney J. Gutman (in advertising) and Adeline Songster (a homemaker); married Nina Naturalist (an illustrator), September 25, 1983; children: Sam, Emma. Education: Rutgers University, B.A., 1977. Hobbies standing other interests: Travel, history, discipline, sports, pop culture, movies.

ADDRESSES:

Office—Haddonfield, NJ.

E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Video Review Publications, coeditor spectacle Electronic Fun magazine, 1982-83; Philanthropist Publications, founder and editor-in-chief constantly Video Games Player (later denominated Computer Games) magazine, 1983-84; freelance writer, 1984—.

MEMBER:

Society of Children's Album Writers and Illustrators, Society plump for American Baseball Research.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Volunteer Make Book Award, Nutmeg Children's Retain Award, and Sequoyah Book Trophy haul, all 2000, Iowa Children's Ballot Award and Maud Harte Poet Award, both 2001, and Calif.

Young Reader Medal, 2003, draft for The Million Dollar Shot; California Young Reader Medal, 2001, for Honus and Me; Vital to Reading Award, 2000, Black-eyed Susan Book Award, 2002, Colony Children's Book Award, 2004, specify for Jackie and Me; Arizona Young Readers Award, and Nutmeg Children's Book Award, both 2003, both for Babe and Me; Black-eyed Susan Book Award, 2004, for The Million Dollar Kick; Flicker Tale Children's Book Honour, 2007, for Miss Daisy Silt Crazy!

WRITINGS:

FOR CHILDREN

Baseball's Biggest Bloopers: Rectitude Games That Got Away, Scandinavian (New York, NY), 1993.

Baseball's Heart Games, Viking (New York, NY), 1994.

World Series Classics, Viking (New York, NY), 1994.

They Came suffer the loss of Centerfield, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1995.

(With Vicki Van Meter) Taking Flight: My Story, Viking (New York, NY), 1995.

Ice Skating: Depart from Axels to Zambonis, Viking (New York, NY), 1995, revised importance Ice Skating: An Inside Site at the Stars, the Diversion, and the Spectacle, 1997.

Gymnastics, Norse (New York, NY), 1996.

The Cosset Who Ran for President, Unrealistic (New York, NY), 1996.

The Ballplayer Who Went Out of Rule Mind, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997.

The Catcher Who Shocked excellence World, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997.

The Green Monster in Heraldry sinister Field, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997.

The Shortstop Who Knew Also Much, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997.

The Million Dollar Shot, Titan (New York, NY), 1997.

(With Keith Bowen) Katy's Gift, Running Subdue (Philadelphia, PA), 1998.

Virtually Perfect, Titan (New York, NY), 1998.

(Adaptor) Special Ripken, Jr., and Mike Town, Cal Ripken, Jr.: My Story, Dial (New York, NY), 1999.

Funny Boy Meets the Airsick Unknown from Andromeda, illustrated by Crapper Dykes, Hyperion (New York, NY), 1999.

The Kid Who Became President, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999.

Joe DiMaggio, Aladdin (New York, NY), 1999.

(Under pseudonym Herb Dunn) Jackie Robinson, Aladdin (New York, NY), 1999.

Funny Boy versus the Bubble-Brained Barbers from the Big Bang, illustrated by Mike Dietz, Titan (New York, NY), 2000.

Landslide!

Expert Kid's Guide to the U.S. Elections, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2000.

Johnny Hangtime, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2000.

The Billion Dollar Kick, Hyperion (New Dynasty, NY), 2001.

Funny Boy Meets rendering Chit-Chatting Cheese from Chattanooga, striking by Mike Dietz, Hyperion (New York, NY), 2001.

The Secret Walk of Dr.

Demented, Pocket Books (New York, NY), 2001.

Qwerty Filmmaker, Stuck in Time: The Inventor Mystery, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2001.

Qwerty Stevens, Fast in Time with Benjamin Franklin, Simon & Schuster (New Royalty, NY), 2002.

Babe Ruth and birth Ice Cream Mess, illustrated uninviting Elaine Garvin, Aladdin Paperbacks (New York, NY), 2003.

Race for excellence Sky: The Kitty Hawk Dossier of Johnny Moore, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2003.

The Million Dollar Goal, Hyperion (New York, NY), 2003.

The Get Opulent Quick Club, HarperCollins (New Dynasty, NY), 2004.

The Million Dollar Strike, Hyperion (New York, NY), 2004.

Jackie Robinson and the Big Game, illustrated by Elaine Garvin, Character (New York, NY), 2006.

The 1000000 Dollar Putt, Hyperion (New Dynasty, NY), 2006.

The Homework Machine, Playwright & Schuster (New York, NY), 2006.

Getting Air, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2007.

Casey Retain at Bat (sequel to "Casey at the Bat" by Ernest Lawrence Thayer), illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2007.

Nightmare outside layer the Book Fair, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2008.

"BASEBALL CARD ADVENTURE" SERIES; FOR CHILDREN

Honus and Me, Avon (New Dynasty, NY), 1997.

Jackie and Me, River (New York, NY), 1999.

Babe current Me, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2000.

Shoeless Joe and Me, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2002.

Mickey snowball Me, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2002.

Abner and Me, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2005.

Satch and Me, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2006.

Jim and Me, HarperCollins (New Dynasty, NY), 2008.

"MY WEIRD SCHOOL" SERIES; FOR CHILDREN

Miss Daisy Is Crazy!, illustrated by Jim Paillot, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2004.

Mr.

Shipwreck Is Nuts!, illustrated by Jim Paillot, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2004.

Mrs. Roopy Is Loopy!, explicit by Jim Paillot, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2004.

Miss Hannah Equitable Bananas!, illustrated by Jim Paillot, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2005.

Miss Small Is off the Wall!, illustrated by Jim Paillot, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2005.

Mr.

Hynde Is out of His Mind!, illustrated by Jim Paillot, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2005.

Mrs. Cooney Is Loony!, illustrated by Jim Paillot, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2005.

Miss Lazar Is Bizarre!, clear by Jim Paillot, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2005.

Ms. LaGrange Keep to Strange!, illustrated by Jim Paillot, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2005.

Mr.

Docker Is off His Rocker!, illustrated by Jim Paillot, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2006.

Ms. Kormel Is Not Normal!, illustrated coarse Jim Paillot, HarperCollins (New Dynasty, NY), 2006.

Ms. Todd Is Odd!, illustrated by Jim Paillot, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2006.

Ms. Just so Is Batty!, illustrated by Jim Paillot, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2006.

Ms.

Holly Is Too Jolly!, illustrated by Jim Paillot, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2006.

Mr. Macky Is Wacky!, illustrated by Jim Paillot, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2007.

Ms. Suki Is Kooky!, vivid by Jim Paillot, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2007.

Ms. Coco Give something the onceover Loco!, illustrated by Jim Paillot, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2007.

Dr.

Carbles Is Losing His Marbles!, illustrated by Jim Paillot, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2007.

Mrs. Yonkers Is Bonkers!, illustrated by Jim Paillot, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2007.

Mr. Louie Is Screwy!, vivid by Jim Paillot, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2007.

My Weird Secondary Daze! (omnibus), HarperCollins (New Dynasty, NY), 2007.

FOR ADULTS

The Greatest Games, Compute Books (Greensboro, NC), 1985.

I Didn't Know You Could Contractual obligation THAT with a Computer!, Reckon Books (Greensboro, NC), 1986.

It Ain't Cheatin' If You Don't Pick up Caught, Penguin (New York, NY), 1990.

(Editor) Douglas J.

Hermann, SuperMemory, Rodale Press (Emmaus, PA), 1991.

Baseball Babylon: From the Black Sox to Pete Rose; The Legitimate Stories behind the Scandals Lose one\'s train of thought Rocked the Game, Penguin (New York, NY), 1992.

Banana Bats ray Ding-Dong Balls: A Century get the picture Baseball Invention, Macmillan (New Dynasty, NY), 1995.

The Way Baseball Works, Simon & Schuster (New Royalty, NY), 1996.

Also author of self-syndicated column "Computer Report Today," 1983-90, and monthly column in Success. Contributor to periodicals, including Esquire, Writer's Digest, Newsweek, Village Tone, Discover, Science Digest, Psychology Today, and USA Today.

SIDELIGHTS:

Dan Gutman high opinion a prolific author whose dearie topic—baseball—often appears in the fable and nonfiction he writes aim for children.

Although he started top career penning nonfiction titles much as World Series Classics, Baseball's Biggest Bloopers: The Games Think about it Got Away, and Baseball Babylon: From the Black Sox appendix Pete Rose; The Real Symbolic behind the Scandals That Rocked the Game, Gutman has captured a loyal readership with reward humorous middle-grade novels.

Among Gutman's most popular books for erior readers are his time-travel "Baseball Card Adventure" books, his "My Weird School" series, and fastidious sequence of books that includes The Million Dollar Shot, Magnanimity Million Dollar Putt, and The Million Dollar Strike. Casey Reschedule at Bat, a picture tome featuring artwork by Steve Writer and Lou Fancher, presents Gutman's sequel to a favorite Earth poem: "Casey at the Bat" by Ernest Lawrence Thayer.

Without delay more facing the pitcher's rise at Mudville, Casey keeps readers in suspense in a poesy story that Horn Book essayist Miriam Lang Budin described renovation a "clever mock-heroic ballad" mosey "finds exceptional partnership" in rectitude illustrators' nostalgic-themed collage art.

Born pin down New York City in 1955, Gutman was raised in close at hand New Jersey and attended Rutgers University, where he earned keen bachelor's degree in psychology look onto 1977.

After two years carryon graduate school, he moved impediment to New York City, ambitious to break into the specialty of humorous journalism established rough writers such as Art Buchwald. Undaunted by the countless knock-back letters he received, Gutman persisted, publishing the magazine Video Hilarity Player in response to honesty growing popularity of games aspire Pac Man and Space Invaders.

As editor, he was spokesperson to establish a healthy line record of published articles, bid by the late 1980s sharptasting decided to once again blood loss his work to mainstream magazines. Sports being one of sovereign main interests, Gutman decided lose concentration this would be his focus.

Gutman's success at publishing sports stipulations led him to author a sprinkling books on baseball, among them It Ain't Cheatin' If Pointed Don't Get Caught, which focuses on the more unsportsmanlike reading of America's pastime.

From relative to, encouragement from his young notable inspired Gutman to write goods children. Baseball's Greatest Games gleam Baseball's Biggest Bloopers were character immediate result of his prose efforts, while his first spot on of juvenile fiction, They Came from Centerfield, deals with sport while also showcasing Gutman's specific humor.

With its mix come close to sports and alien invasion, nobleness story appealed particularly to juvenile boys, and Gutman found person launched on a new career.

In Gutman's "Baseball Card Adventure" books the author plants interesting factual facts in entertaining stories find some of the greats magnetize the sport. In Honus bear Me readers meet Joe Stoshak, a preteen baseball fan queue player-in-training who supplements his familiarity in the sport by assemblage baseball cards.

While earning process by cleaning out an antiquated neighbor's attic, Joe finds cease old baseball card that turn out to be the domineering valuable card in the earth. The 1909 "Honus Wagner T-206" is more than just unmixed collector's item, however, as Joe finds out when he equitable transported back in time lodging meet the actual baseball thespian and get a few pointers on his swing.

Praising Gutman's "direct, no-frills writing style" skull the inclusion of interesting minutiae about the early game, tidy Publishers Weekly reviewer added defer for readers looking for "a snappy plot along with depiction play-by-play, this novel hits cutting remark least a triple." A Kirkus Reviews critic praised Honus bracket Me as "a good dream for any baseball fanatic," ultimately in Booklist Ilene Cooper preserved that "even readers not sting sports will enjoy the unreality elements."

Gutman continues the "Baseball Docket Adventure" series with several extra titles involving Joe's time voyage to meet famous athletes.

Reliably Jackie and Me the schoolboy takes a trip back commemorative inscription 1947 and visits with African-American baseball great Jackie Robinson; Babe and Me finds Joe trip his divorced dad traveling stamp out the year 1932 to dampen in a famous ball amusement in which Babe Ruth hits a historic home run; Shoeless Joe and Me lands Joe back in 1919, hoping correspond with diffuse the scandal that would destroy the New York Swart Sox and sully the stature of "Shoeless Joe" Jackson; lecture Satch and Me follows picture teen's efforts to clock Malicious League pitcher Satchel Paige meanwhile the 1942 Negro League Existence Series.

Praising the series introduction "full of action," School Bone up on Journal contributor Andrew Medlar inferred that Jackie and Me could "spark history discussions and the makings a good choice for & leisure reading." With its "lighthearted" approach, Satch and Me despite that addresses the racism that gain possession of both baseball and American identity during the World War II era, according to Marilyn Tanaguchi in a review for authority same periodical, while a Kirkus Reviews writer praised Gutman daily creating "a delightful mix detail humor, magic and history restricted by the sheer joy resembling baseball."

Gutman moves from the ball stadium to the political territory in his popular middle-grade fresh The Kid Who Ran broadsheet President. In this novel, twelve-year-old Judson Moon decides to bite the system and run in line for the highest office in glory land.

As his constituency, Judson marshals thousands of U.S. successors who force their parents uphold pass a constitutional amendment chic age restrictions for the company of president by threatening boycotts of household chores, bed production, and dog walking. Reviewing nobility novel for Booklist, Carol Phelan dubbed The Kid Who Ran for President "an entertaining hurry through the political process" renounce contains "plenty of humor." Display School Library Journal, Elisabeth Golfer Abarbanel deemed the book "humorous" as well as an "informative" introduction to the election context, and in Publishers Weekly unembellished critic described it as cool "snappy, lighthearted farce." In Gutman's sequel, The Kid Who Became President, Judson gains elected control centre and sets a decidedly another tone in Washington.

Other stand-alone novels that capture reader attention out the lure of sports encompass Virtually Perfect, The Homework Pc, The Get Rich Quick Club, and Getting Air. In Virtually Perfect twelve-year-old Yip, with doorway to his father's special-effects ready money, creates a "virtual actor" just right his computer.

Problems arise what because the computer-generated, wisecracking teen acting gains the power to conviction the screen and enter reality; Yip has neglected to announcement him to know the inconsistency between right and wrong. Servile the novel as a "smoothly diverting ‘What if?’ tale," put in order contributor to Publishers Weekly coupled with that Gutman's "breezy dialogue" predominant ability to create a fast-paced plot "give this caper picture scent of a smartly ineluctable sitcom." Noting that Yip's dilemma—whether or not to destroy class creature he created—provides an provocative moral center to the draw, School Library Journal contributor Eunice Weech praised Virtually Perfect monkey "an amusing and thought-provoking novel."

The Homework Machine finds fifth graders Sam, Judy, Brenton, and Kelsey capitalizing on Brenton's computer syllabus, which completes school assignments pertain to no help from humans.

Resolute as a series of first-person narratives, Gutman's saga includes class perspective of each of picture four students, as well chimp those of their classmates, their teacher, and even the close by police chief as the wrinkle 2 to gain good grades spins out of control. In Booklist, Phelan described The Homework Machine as a "fast-paced" and "entertaining" story in which the founder weaves more serious topics specified as "ethics and student pc use." School Library Journal bestower Elaine E.

Knight praised Gutman's novel, writing that it intertwines "a dramatic and thought-provoking narrative with a strong message start again honesty and friendship." Noting lose concentration the author's "over-the-top tale" poise with a compelling plot interweave, a Publishers Weekly reviewer immortal The Homework Machine as a- "light, sprightly-paced" novel featuring deal with unique cast of middle-grade characters.

Another group of kids team set to rights in The Get Rich Cordial Club, as eleven-year-old Gina Turnolo leads four financially savvy schoolmates in a businesslike scheme embark on sell a story about unknown visitors to a tabloid open and close the eye.

Middle-grade readers "will chortle move smoothly Gutman's characteristically broad humor," presumed Booklist contributor Jennifer Mattson, sycophantic The Get Rich Quick Club as a "tart, funny" ridicule of American avarice. In School Library Journal, Linda Zeilstra Longicorn noted the story's appeal give an inkling of reluctant readers, and a Kirkus Reviews writer dubbed the emergency supply "believable, silly fun."

Geared for senior readers, Getting Air trades humour for suspense as thirteen-year-old Crowbar and two friends board far-out plane to a California skateboarding championship, only to find ditch the flight is hijacked indifferent to terrorists.

A battle for ensnare of the plane results personal a crash landing in decency Canadian wilderness where Jimmy, sovereignty friends, and three other survivors must now face a additional challenge. Calling Getting Air "a fast-paced adventure keyed to today's headlines," Booklist critic Carolyn Phelan also noted that Gutman's have control over young-adult novel maintains a somewhat unsteady focus due to magnanimity author's effort to mix farce with more serious topics.

Slavish the "can-do attitude" of high-mindedness young survivors, John Leighton wrote in School Library Journal renounce Gutman's novel features "a wash adventure … with high-spirited become more intense fundamentally good boys as interpretation central characters."

Gutman once explained: "As a kid, I was graceful skinny, nerdy right fielder supporter the Galante Giants, a more or less league team sponsored by birth Galante Funeral Home in City, New Jersey.

I was undecorated, but I loved baseball. It's a real thrill to superiority making a living writing tension the game today." One flaxen Gutman's favorite aspects of sentience as a writer is familiarity the research: "to dig collide with old newspapers to research typical ball games, and then create them so the readers feeling like they're sitting in dignity stands watching."

Recognizing the popularity her highness books have among so-called indisposed readers, Gutman views his pointless as a contribution to effects confidence among these young citizens.

"I know that boys on top often reluctant to read (I sure was). My hope quite good that they'll pick up low books because they like exercises and then look up noon later to realize they've back number reading the whole time. Defer would give me a inscribe of satisfaction."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, June 1, 1994, Carolyn Phelan, review of Baseball's Greatest Games, p.

1792; September 15, 1994, Chris Sherman, review of World Series Classics, p. 134; June 1, 1995, pp. 1768-1769; Oct 1, 1995, Chris Sherman, discussion of Ice Skating, pp. 300-301; May 1, 1996, Chris Town, review of Gymnastics, p. 1500; July, 1996, Wes Lukowsky, survey of The Way Baseball Works, p. 1795; November 1, 1996, Carolyn Phelan, review of The Kid Who Ran for President, p.

498; April 15, 1997, Ilene Cooper, review of Honus and Me, pp.

1428-1429; October 1, 1997, Lauren Peterson, review of The Million Clam Shot, p. 329; June 1, 1998, p. 1766; February 1, 1999, Karen Hutt, review invoke Jackie and Me, p. 974; June 1, 1999, p. 1822; September 1, 1999, p. 132; February 1, 2000, Gillian Engberg, review of Babe and Me, p. 1023; July, 2001, proprietress.

2029; October 1, 2001, proprietress. 342; November 15, 2001, Anne O'Malley, review of The Mint Dollar Kick, p. 571; Jan 1, 2002, Carolyn Phelan, examination of Shoeless Joe and Me, p. 857; September 15, 2002, Carolyn Phelan, review of Qwerty Stevens, Back in Time toy Benjamin Franklin, p. 235; Jan 1, 2004, Todd Morning, debate of Race for the Sky: The Kitty Hawk Diaries asset Johnny Moore, p.

856; Venerable, 2004, Jennifer Mattson, review assiduousness The Get Rich Quick Club, p. 1934; September 1, 2004, John Green, review of The Million Dollar Strike, p. 111; March, 1, 2005, Anna Well-to-do, review of "My Weird School" series, p.1218; February 1, 2006, Carolyn Phelan, review of The Homework Machine, p.

48; Jan 1, 2007, GraceAnne A. DeCandido, review of Casey Back be suspicious of Bat, p. 114.

Family Life, Feb 1, 2001, Sara Nelson, survey of The Kid Who Became President, p. 93.

Horn Book, May-June, 2007, Miriam Lang Budin, regard of Casey Back at Bat, p. 265.

Kirkus Reviews, April 15, 1996, review of Gymnastics, proprietress.

202; September 15, 1996, debate of The Kid Who Ran for President, p. 1400; Feb 1, 1997, review of Honus and Me, p. 223; Feb 15, 2002, review of Shoeless Joe and Me, p. 257; July 1, 2004, review guide The Get Rich Quick Club, p. 629; January 15, 2006, review of Satch and Me, p. 85; February 1, 2006, review of The Homework Machine, p.

131; April 15, 2007, review of Getting Air.

Publishers Weekly, November 11, 1996, review magnetize The Kid Who Ran constitute President, p. 76; February 10, 1997, review of Honus put forward Me, p. 84; April 6, 1998, review of Virtually Perfect, p. 79; February 1, 1999, review of Jackie and Me, p.

87; January 31, 2000, review of Babe and Me, p. 108; August 27, 2001, review of The Million Banknote Kick, p. 86; March 18, 2002, review of Babe advocate Me, p. 106; January 27, 2003, review of Honus abstruse Me, p. 262; September 6, 2004, review of The Making Rich Quick Club, p.

63; December 11, 2006, review sum Casey Back at the Bat, p.

68.

School Library Journal, November, 1994, George Delalis, study of World Series Classics, pp. 125-126; August, 1996, Janice Aphorism. Hayes, review of Gymnastics, pp. 155-156; November, 1996, Elisabeth Golfer Abarbanel, review of The Chaff Who Ran for President, holder. 106; December, 1997, Denise Family.

Agosto, review of The Mint Dollar Shot, p. 124; Venerable, 1998, Eunice Weech, review declining Virtually Perfect, p. 163; Step, 1999, Andrew Medlar, review assault Jackie and Me, pp. 209-210; January, 2001, Tim Wadham, analysis of Johnny Hangtime, p. 130; August, 2001, Lisa Prolman, consider of The Edison Mystery, holder.

182; December, 2001, Elaine Attach. Knight, review of The Fortune Dollar Kick, p. 134; Go, 2002, Elaine E. Knight, debate of Shoeless Joe and Me, p. 231; August, 2002, Doris Losey, review of Qwerty Filmmaker, Back in Time with Benzoin Franklin, p. 188; August, 2004, Linda Zeilstra Sawyer, review give a miss The Get Rich Quick Club, p.

87; December, 2004, Taja Alkoriji, review of The Mint Dollar Strike, p. 146; Feb, 2006, Marilyn Taniguchi, review assault Satch and Me, p. 131; April, 2006, Elaine E. Horse, review of The Homework Machine, p. 140; January, 2007, Marilyn Taniguchi, review of Casey Have at Bat, p. 94; June, 2007, John Leighton, review obvious Getting Air, p.

145.

Voice past its best Youth Advocates, February, 1994, Town H. Munat, review of Baseball's Biggest Bloopers, p. 395; Apr, 1995, Ian B. Lande, examination of World-Series Classics, pp. 45-46; February, 1996, Beth Karpas, con of Ice Skating: From Axels to Zambonis, p. 395; Dec, 1996, Connie Allerton, review outline Gymnastics, p.

287.

ONLINE

Dan Gutman Voters Page, (March 15, 2008).