Seymour Simon, born August 9th, was a classroom science teacher for 23 years before he decided to concentrate full-time on his children's book writing career. The author of more than 200 science books, fiction and nonfiction, he has been given several awards: the New York State Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature; the Hope S. Dean Memorial Award from the Boston Public Library; the Eva L. Gordon Award, presented by the American Nature Society, for his contribution to children's science literature; and the Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Award for Non-fiction for the body of his work. More than half of his books have been named Outstanding Science Books for Children by the National Science Teachers Association. Born in New York City, Mr. Simon attended the Bronx High School of Science and later graduated from New York City College. His first book was Animals in Field and Laboratory, published in 1968 and illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully. The father of two grown sons, Seymour Simon and his wife live in Great Neck, New York.