🎯 Where Should I Start?
ⓘ About Alvin Schwartz
Schwartz was born in Brooklyn, New York on April 25, 1927, and was the son of Harry (a taxi driver) and Gussie Schwartz. Alvin first became interested in folklore during his childhood, but didn’t think of it as something he could study. It was just something that was part of his childhood: the rhymes and riddles, games, scary stories, and superstitions. After spending time in the navy, he became interested in writing. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from Colby College and his master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University. From 1951 until 1955, Alvin reported for The Binghamton Press. During his professional writing career his work was published by various firms, including Bantam Books, HarperCollins, Lippincott, and Farrar Strauss.
All Book Series by Alvin Schwartz
More Tales to Chill Your Bones
Latest in the series · book 4 of 4 · published 1991
There Is a Carrot in My Ear and Other Noodle Tales
Series opener · book 1 of 2 · published 1982
All of Our Noses Are Here And Other Noodle Tales
Latest in the series · book 2 of 2 · published 1985
Kickle Snifters and Other Fearsome Critters
Single-title series · published 1911
A Twister of Twists, A Tangler of Tongues Tongue Twisters
Series opener · book 1 of 15 · published 1972
Chin Music: Tall Talk and Other Talk
Book 4 of 15 · published 1979 Co-authored · John O'Brien
Flapdoodle: Pure Nonsense from American Folklore
Book 6 of 15 · published 1980 Co-authored · John O'Brien
Gold and Silver, Silver and Gold: Tales of Hidden Treasure
Book 11 of 15 · published 1988
And the Green Grass Grew All Around: Folk Poetry from Everyone
Book 14 of 15 · published 1992
Hobbies: An Introduction to Crafts, Collections, Nature Study, and Other Life-Long Pursuits
Series opener · book 1 of 7 · published 1972
Going Camping: A Complete Guide for the Family Camper
Book 2 of 7 · published 1972
When I Grew Up Long Ago: Family Living, Going to School, Games and Parties, Cures and Deaths, a Comet, a War, Falling in Love, and Other Things I Remember
Book 5 of 7 · published 1978
Unriddling: All Sorts of Riddles to Puzzle Your Guessery
Book 6 of 7 · published 1983
Telling Fortunes: Love Magic, Dream Signs, and Other Ways to Learn the Future
Latest in the series · book 7 of 7 · published 1987
Batman: The Golden Age, Vol. 1
Series opener · book 1 of 6 · published 2016 Anthology · George Roussos,Sheldon Moldoff,Bill Finger,Gardner F. Fox,Bob Kane,Whitney Ellsworth,Michael Cho,Jerry Robinson
Batman: The Golden Age, Vol. 2
Book 2 of 6 · published 2017 Anthology · George Roussos,Bill Finger,Bob Kane,Jerry Robinson
Batman: The Golden Age Vol. 3
Book 3 of 6 · published 2017 Anthology · Bill Finger,Bob Kane,Don Cameron,Jack Burnley,Jerry Robinson,Joseph Greene
Batman: The Golden Age Vol. 4
Book 4 of 6 · published 2018 Anthology · Bill Finger,Bob Kane,Evan "Doc" Shaner,Jerry Robinson
Batman: The Golden Age Vol. 5
Book 5 of 6 · published 2018 Anthology · Bill Finger,Bob Kane,Don Cameron,Evan "Doc" Shaner,Jerry Robinson
Batman: The Golden Age Vol. 6
Latest in the series · book 6 of 6 · published 2020
Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane#1
Series opener · book 1 of 16 · published 1958 Anthology · Curt Swan,Stan Kaye,Otto Binder,Kurt Schaffenberger,Leo Dorfman
Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane#3
Book 2 of 16 · published 1958 Anthology · Curt Swan,Jerry Coleman,Stan Kaye,Otto Binder,Kurt Schaffenberger
Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane#4
Book 3 of 16 · published 1958 Co-authored · Curt Swan,Jerry Coleman,Stan Kaye,Otto Binder,Wayne Boring,Kurt Schaffenberger
Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane#5
Book 4 of 16 · published 1958 Anthology · Curt Swan,Stan Kaye,Otto Binder,Kurt Schaffenberger,Al Plastino,Robert Bernstein
Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane#7
Book 5 of 16 · published 1959 Co-authored · Curt Swan,Jerry Coleman,Ray Burnley,Stan Kaye,Wayne Boring,Kurt Schaffenberger,Robert Bernstein
Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane#8
Book 6 of 16 · published 1959 Co-authored · Curt Swan,Stan Kaye,Wayne Boring,Kurt Schaffenberger,Robert Bernstein,Ira Schnapp
Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane#9
Book 7 of 16 · published 1959 Anthology · Curt Swan,Dick Sprang,John Forte,Stan Kaye,Kurt Schaffenberger,Robert Bernstein,Ira Schnapp
Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane#10
Book 8 of 16 · published 1959 Anthology · Curt Swan,Stan Kaye,Wayne Boring,Kurt Schaffenberger,Robert Bernstein,Ira Schnapp
Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane#12
Book 9 of 16 · published 1959 Anthology · Curt Swan,Stan Kaye,Kurt Schaffenberger,Al Plastino,Robert Bernstein
Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane#14
Book 10 of 16 · published 1959 Anthology · Curt Swan,Stan Kaye,Otto Binder,Jerry Siegel,Kurt Schaffenberger,Robert Bernstein
Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane#16
Book 11 of 16 · published 1959 Anthology · Curt Swan,Stan Kaye,Jerry Siegel,Kurt Schaffenberger,Robert Bernstein
Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane#17
Book 12 of 16 · published 1959 Anthology · Curt Swan,Stan Kaye,Otto Binder,Jerry Siegel,Kurt Schaffenberger,Robert Bernstein
Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane#18
Book 13 of 16 · published 1960 Anthology · Curt Swan,Stan Kaye,Otto Binder,Kurt Schaffenberger,Al Plastino,Robert Bernstein
Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane#19
Book 14 of 16 · published 1960 Anthology · Curt Swan,Stan Kaye,Otto Binder,Jerry Siegel,Kurt Schaffenberger,Robert Bernstein
Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane#20
Book 15 of 16 · published 1960 Anthology · Curt Swan,Stan Kaye,Jerry Siegel,Kurt Schaffenberger,Al Plastino,Robert Bernstein
Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane#93
Latest in the series · book 16 of 16 · published 1969 Anthology · Neal Adams,Curt Swan,Robert Kanigher,Mike Esposito,Irv Novick
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Alvin Schwartz?
Schwartz was born in Brooklyn, New York on April 25, 1927, and was the son of Harry (a taxi driver) and Gussie Schwartz. Alvin first became interested in folklore during his childhood, but didn’t think of it as something he could study. It was just something that was part of his childhood: the rhymes and riddles, games, scary stories, and superstitions.
Which Alvin Schwartz series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane (1958-1974) series, the earliest of Alvin Schwartz's multi-book series: it opens with Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane#1 (1958) and runs to 16 books across 1958–1969, ending with Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane#93 (1969). Alvin Schwartz's other series stand alone, so they can be read in any order.
How many books has Alvin Schwartz written?
Alvin Schwartz has 51 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1911 and 2020. 29 of them belong to 5 named series — the largest being the Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane (1958-1974) series with 16 books — and 22 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should Alvin Schwartz's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. Alvin Schwartz's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Alvin Schwartz Picture Book (1911, 1 book), Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane (1958-1974) (1958–1969, 16 books) and Scary Stories To Tell in the Dark (1981–1991, 4 books), plus 2 more.
How are Alvin Schwartz's books organised into series?
This guide splits Alvin Schwartz's 51 books into 5 named series and 22 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane (1958-1974) (16 books, 1958–1969); Golden Age Batman (6 books, 2016–2020); Scary Stories To Tell in the Dark (4 books, 1981–1991); And Other Noodle Tales (2 books, 1982–1985); Alvin Schwartz Picture Book (1 book, 1911).