We Love to Read Author Visit: Jerry Pallotta

Jerry began writing books in 1986 when he was 32 years old. He got the idea for his first book, Ocean Alphabet, while reading to his own children and remembering all the fun he had growing up at the beach on the Massachusetts coast. This self-published title established Jerry’s creative process; Jerry hired his own illustrator, designed the book, directed the art, researched, wrote and edited the text, bought paper and rented press time. While successfully selling Ocean Alphabet, inspiration for the next title, and the next, took hold. Information researched in the field, complimented with museum and library study grew into a series of 30 nonfiction alphabet titles that includes Icky Bug Alphabet, Airplane Alphabet, Flower Alphabet and Eyeball Alphabet. More are in the works!

Set the groundwork for oral and written debate in Jerry’s popular series, Who Would Win, a fact filled non-fiction comparison of two rivals. Twenty five completed titles include Killer Whale vs Great White Shark, Komodo Dragon vs King Cobra, and Ultimate Shark Rumble. This compelling series is attracting those ‘rascals who think they don’t like to read’. More titles are underway!

Jerry also brings nonfiction subjects to the field of elementary math in a beautifully illustrated format. His math literacy books count from zero to zillions, in titles such as Underwater Counting Even Numbers, Underwater Counting Odd Numbers, Count to a Million, and Icky Bug Numbers. Jerry’s Math = Fun series includes the operations of addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, as well as fractions and measurement.

Jerry’s stories model an opportunity for both research and creative writing. Dory Story reveals the Atlantic Ocean food chain with a fictional twist. Who Will Guide My Sleigh This Year? and How Will I Get to School This Year? inspire young writers to come up with their own solutions for the yearly dilemma. Get reluctant boys (and girls) reading and writing with Guys Read. Jerry’s story, Dead Body, recounts a boyhood memory at the beach.

Jerry has been to over 4000 schools and 400 conferences. He has spoken to over two million children, face to face. From 2005 through 2007, Jerry presented the Read a Zillion Books ® Literacy Conference, an assembly of nationally recognized educators, authors, and illustrators who promote reading and writing to emerging and experienced teachers.

Jerry continues to create new books in several genres in his particular style, bringing a finished product to his publishers. This self-directed model allows Jerry to effectively inspire his audience to read and write a zillion books!