Drew Daywalt author page

Drew Daywalt biography

Drew Daywalt is an American author and filmmaker, best known for his contributions to children’s literature. Born on January 5, 1970, in Hudson, Ohio, he developed an early interest in storytelling, influenced by his family’s haunted house and exposure to horror films and comic books. He pursued creative writing at Emerson College in Boston, graduating with a BFA in 1992.

After college, Daywalt moved to Hollywood, where he wrote for animated television series, including Timon & Pumbaa, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, and The Wacky World of Tex Avery. He also ventured into horror filmmaking, co-founding the YouTube channel Fewdio and later establishing Daywalt Fear Factory, creating short horror films such as “Bedfellows.”

In 2013, Daywalt published his debut picture book, The Day the Crayons Quit, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. The book became a #1 New York Times bestseller and received numerous accolades, including the E.B. White Read-Aloud Award. Its sequel, The Day the Crayons Came Home (2015), also achieved bestseller status and critical acclaim.

Daywalt’s other works include The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors (2017), Sleepy, the Goodnight Buddy (2018), and The Epic Adventures of Huggie & Stick (2018). He has also authored board books such as The Crayons’ Book of Numbers and The Crayons’ Book of Colors, as well as the early reader series Monkey & Cake. In 2024, he released his first middle-grade novel, They Call Me “No Sam”.

Throughout his career, Daywalt has received over 65 awards for his children’s writing.