Dan Gutman author page

Dan Gutman biography

Dan Gutman is an American author renowned for his extensive body of children’s literature. Born on October 19, 1955, in New York City, he relocated with his family to Newark, New Jersey, during his infancy. Gutman earned a degree in psychology from Rutgers University in 1977. After a brief stint in graduate school, he shifted his focus to writing, initially contributing humorous essays and articles to various publications.

In the early 1980s, Gutman founded and edited the magazine Video Games Player, later renamed Computer Games. This venture marked his entry into publishing and led to his marriage to illustrator Nina Wallace in 1983. Transitioning to freelance writing, he authored articles for magazines such as Esquire, Newsweek, and Psychology Today.

Gutman’s foray into children’s literature began in the early 1990s with nonfiction sports books. He later ventured into fiction, achieving significant success with the Baseball Card Adventures series, starting with Honus & Me in 1997. This series features a protagonist who travels through time to meet baseball legends.

Another notable work is the My Weird School series, launched in 2004, which has expanded to over 100 titles and sold more than 35 million copies globally. The series is known for its humorous take on school life and has been a staple for young readers.

Gutman’s other works include the Genius Files series, Flashback Four series, and standalone novels like The Homework Machine and The Kid Who Ran for President. His books have received numerous accolades, including selections by the Junior Library Guild and various state book awards.