What Do Fish Have to Do With Anything?

Avi, born Edward Wortis in New York City in 1937, is one of the most celebrated children’s authors of the past century and has amassed a body of work that spans more than 80 books across multiple genres and age levels. His pen name, “Avi,” was a childhood nickname given by his sister, but it quickly became the identity upon which he built his literary career. His writing is widely studied and honored, and he has received both the Newbery Medal and the Newbery Honor, among many other awards. 

Avi speaks of having a difficult relationship with school and writing; during his early years, he struggled as a student and was often criticized for “sloppy work”: difficulties that he later learned may have been symptoms of dyslexia. Despite these challenges, Avi always understood the importance of writing and storytelling, a conviction reinforced by his family. His mother, who emphasized the deep value of reading, frequently took him to the library and gave him books as gifts, nurturing his lifelong love of language and literature (“About Avi.” Avi, 2025).

This foundation carried into his adult life, where he worked for many years as a librarian. Avi has often emphasized that his family sits at the center of his life, and after becoming a parent himself, he transitioned from playwriting into children’s literature.