A video interview with

Jane Yolen

Jane Yolen has written stories about toads in space, dinosaurs at bedtime, and much more. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Jane Yolen recites the first poem she ever wrote and talks about how to encourage creative writing in kids.

You can watch the interview below, view the interview transcript, read a short biography on Jane Yolen, or see a selected list of her children's books. (This video is also available on YouTube and iTunes.)


Jane Yolen has been reading, writing, and telling stories for most of her life. As a young girl, fairytales and folktales stirred her imagination. As an adult, Yolen has captivated children with her own versions of magic, mystery, and lore. Newsweek once referred to Yolen as "America's Hans Christian Andersen." In over 40 years, Yolen has published more than 250 books. "I know that sounds like a lot of books," she says, "but I remember writing them each, one at a time."

Jane Yolen's best known books include Owl Moon, How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?, The Devil's Arithmetic, and the Pit Dragon Trilogy.

Writing from the start




