Etan Boritzer (born 1950) is an American writer of

children’s literature Children's literature or juvenile literature includes stories, books, magazines, and poems that are created for children. In addition to conventional literary genres, modern children's literature is classified by the intended age of the reade ...

who is best known for his book ''What is God?'' first published in 1989. His best selling ''What is?'' illustrated children's book series on

character education Character education is an umbrella term loosely used to describe the teaching of children and adults in a manner that will help them develop variously as moral, civic, good, mannered, behaved, non-bullying, healthy, critical, successful, traditiona ...

and difficult subjects for children is a popular teaching guide for parents, teachers and child-life professionals. Boritzer gained national critical acclaim after ''What is God?'' was published in 1989 although the book has caused controversy from religious fundamentalists for its universalist views. The other current books in the ''What is?'' series include: ''What is Love?, What is Death?, What is Beautiful?, What is Funny?, What is Right?, What is Peace?, What is Money?, What is Dreaming?, What is a Friend?, What is True?, What is a Family?,'' and ''What is a Feeling?'' The series is now also translated into 15 languages. Boritzer was first published in 1963 at the age of 13 when he wrote an essay in his English class at Wade Junior High School in the

Bronx, New York The Bronx ( ) is the northernmost of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It shares a land border with Westchester County, New York, West ...

on the assassination of John F. Kennedy. His essay was included in a special anthology by New York City public school children compiled and published by the

New York City Department of Education The New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) is the department of the government of New York City that manages the city's public school system. The City School District of the City of New York (more commonly known as New York City Publ ...

. Boritzer now lives in

Venice, California Venice is a neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles within the Westside region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Venice was founded by Abbot Kinney in 1905 as a seaside resort town. It was an independent city until 1926, whe ...

and maintains his publishing office there also. He has helped numerous other authors to get published through ''How to Get Your Book Published!'' programs. Boritzer is also a yoga teacher who teaches regular classes locally and guest-teaches nationally. He is also recognized nationally as an erudite speaker on ''The Teachings of the Buddha.''

References

External links

Children's Literature – What is? illustrated children’s book series on character education and difficult subjects
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boritzer, Etan Living people American children's writers 1950 births