Daniel Manus Pinkwater is an American author known for his works in children's literature and young adult fiction. Born on November 15, 1941, Pinkwater has delighted readers with books such as Lizard Music, The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death, Fat Men from Space, Borgel, and the beloved picture book The Big Orange Splot.

In addition to his notable contributions to children's literature, Pinkwater has ventured into adult fiction with the novel The Afterlife Diet (1995) and has published essay collections inspired by his engaging talks on National Public Radio. Many of Pinkwater’s stories draw from his personal experiences and the people he encountered during his youth, offering a blend of imagination and reality.