Alvin Schwartz

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"