From Avi to Zeises: Learn how to pronounce tricky author names

How do you pronounce “Jon Scieszka,” author of The Stinky Cheese Man and the new U.S. Ambassador of Young People’s Literature? Or how about the British fantasy author of the bestselling Redwall series: Brian Jacques?

Imagine introducing one of these authors’ books to students in a classroom or library, and mangling the author’s name. A new online database will help you avoid these blunders. The Author Name Pronunciation Guide is a website created by TeachingBooks.net. The site features hundreds of prominent authors, including many winners of the Newbery, Caldecott, and Coretta Scott King awards.

To create the collection, TeachingBooks asks authors and illustrators of children’s books to call a designated phone line and say, “Hello, my name is…” They are encouraged to add a short bit about the heritage or personal story of the name, or just give a tip on how to remember to pronounce it (“Scieszka,” it turns out, rhymes with Fresca). The website now has more than 400 names, with new names added each week. To hear the pronunciation of your favorite author’s name, visit the TeachingBooks site.