Arthur Yorinks
Personal Information
Description
Arthur Yorinks has written and directed for opera, theater, dance, film, and radio and is the author of over thirty-five acclaimed and award-winning books, including Hey, Al, a children’s book, which earned the Caldecott Medal in 1987. From the age of 6, Yorinks studied to be a classical pianist, under former Juilliard professor Robert Bedford. At 17, veering from a potential profession as a classical musician, Yorinks began over four decades of writing and working in the performing arts. In the field of opera, Yorinks was Philip Glass’s librettist for the operas The Juniper Tree and The Fall of the House of Usher. Through his forty years of picture-book making, he has teamed up with many famed illustrators including Maurice Sendak, William Steig, Mort Drucker, David Small, and Richard Egielski. His book, Mommy?, was a New York Times bestseller. Mr. Yorinks lives in New York City and continues to write and direct.
Books
Ugh
Unappreciated and overworked by his selfish family, Ugh, a prehistoric caveboy, escapes his dreary life when he invents a bicycle.
The Miami Giant
When Giuseppe Giaweeni sails from Italy to look for China, he lands in Miami instead, where he discovers a lost tribe of dancing giants, one of whom he brings back to Europe.
The magic meatballs
Marvin meets a man who gives him special, magical chopped meat. Now he must find out if the magical meat will help solve his problems.
Happy bees
Rhythmic text describes the carefree life of bees as they sting knees, munch on Swiss cheese, and laugh in the breeze.
Saega toen ch'ŏngsobu
"Al, a janitor, and his faithful dog, Eddie, live in a single room on the West Side. They eat together, they work together, they do everything together. So what's the problem? Their room is crowded and cramped; their life is an endless struggle. Al and Eddie are practically at each others throats when a large and mysterious bird offers them a new life in paradise. After some debate, they decide to accept. Transported to a gorgeous island in the sky, Al and Eddie are soon living a life of ease and luxury. But they come to find that the grass can be a little too green on the other side. After a dramatic, nearly tragic escape from their paradise prison, both man and dog agree: there really is no place like home." -- goodreads.com
Making scents
Mickey isn't quite like his brothers and sisters. They're all stronger, faster, and have a much better sense of smell. That s because his "brothers and sisters" are dogs bloodhounds, to be exact. Mickey s mom and dad are crazy about canines. Their dogs are the loves of their lives and their livelihood. So, naturally, they re raising their son as if he was a dog, and Mickey wants nothing more than to make his parents proud.
Flappy and Scrappy
After canine friends Scrappy and Flappy play an unusual game of catch, Scrappy complains that everyone has forgotten his birthday, but Flappy surprises him.
Hey, Al
Al, a janitor and his dog Eddie are transported by a mysterious bird to a fantasy island, but decide there is no place like home.
Harry & Lulu
Lulu, who has always wanted a dog, instead gets a very unusual stuffed animal that takes her on a trip to France.
Homework
When Tony's pens, along with his pencil and eraser, come to life, the squabbling set of writing tools tries to complete Tony's neglected homework.
The floating cow and other stories
A series of fantastic adventures involving Lulabell the cow and other animals which live on a farm.
Arthur Yorinks's The flying latke
A family argument on the first night of Chanukah results in a food fight and a flying latke that is mistaken for a flying saucer.