Gary Paulsen

Gary Paulsen is a master storyteller who has written more than 200 books and short stories.

He developed a passion for reading at an early age after a librarian gave him a book to read along with his own library card. He began spending hours alone in the basement of his apartment building, reading one book after another.

Running away from home at the age of 14 and traveling with a carnival, Paulsen acquired a taste for adventure. A youthful summer of rigorous chores on a farm; jobs as an engineer, construction worker, ranch hand, truck driver, and sailor; and multiple rounds of the 1,180-mile Alaskan dog sled race, the Iditarod; have provided ample material from which he creates his powerful stories.

Paulsen's intense desire to tap deeply into the human spirit, encourage readers to observe and care about the world around them, and an overwhelming belief in young people drives him to write.

Paulsen is a three-time Newbery-Honor recipient. His books frequently appear on the best books lists of the American Library Association.

Paulsen divides his time between his dog kennel in Alaska, his ranch in New Mexico and his sailboat on the Pacific.