Jon Scieszka was born in Flint, Michigan, the second oldest of six sons born to Shirly Scieszka, a Registered Nurse, and Louis Scieszka, an elementary school principal. He attended Culver Military Academy in Indiana and graduated in three years. He then studied both English and science at Albion College, and in 1976 he received a B.A. in writing. He went on to Columbia University's writing program, and in 1980 he received a Master of Fine Arts degree.

After graduating, Scieszka held several jobs, including teaching elementary school, writing for magazines, painting apartments, working as a carpenter, and being a lifeguard. In 1989, he published his first book, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. He currently lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn with his wife and children.

Scieszka is an American children's writer, best known for his picture books created with the illustrator Lane Smith. He is also a nationally recognized reading advocate, and the founder of Guys Read – a web-based literacy program for boys whose mission is "to help boys become self-motivated, lifelong readers." Scieszka was the first U.S. National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, appointed by the Librarian of Congress for the calendar years 2008 and 2009. His Time Warp Trio series, which teaches kids history, has been adapted into a television show.