David Zeltser

David Zeltser’s first books, the middle grade LUG series, put a comic spin on climate change and caveman family dynamics. The novels were praised by Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, Gordon Korman, and Al Gore, who called LUG: DAWN OF THE ICE AGE “a great combination of humor and powerful insight.”

David’s first picture book, NINJA BABY, was the runner-up for the Magnolia State Book Award and received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, which called it “a funny and pitch-perfect story.” It was illustrated by Caldecott Honor-winning artist Diane Goode. His next books, THE UNIVERSE ATE MY HOMEWORK, STINKER, and CODZILLA, have been translated into multiple languages. THE NIGHT LIBRARY, illustrated by Pura Belpré Award winner Raúl Colón, is being adapted into a musical. David’s latest book, THE TREASURE COLLECTOR, was created with Benjamin Arthur, an Emmy-winning animator and friend.

David is also a screenwriter and filmmaker who often collaborates with another friend, writer-director Joseph Greco. Their feature film, SOLO, is being produced by Oscar winner Jonathan Sanger and Elayne Schmidt.

An animal lover, David has cared for dogs, cats, birds, sea stars, giraffes, and a baby rhino named Emmitt. He emigrated from Moldova at age five, grew up in public housing in Pittsburgh, and graduated from Harvard with a degree in physics and the goal of disappointing his parents by writing books and movies.

He co-founded the Word Lab, a free writing center for Santa Cruz kids, with poet and educator Julia Chiapella. Since then, young writers from local schools have published ten annual WORD LAB WORKS anthologies, all for sale at Bookshop Santa Cruz. David lives near the UCSC campus with his much smarter wife and daughter, and their scruffy terrier mix, Annie.

He is represented by the wonderful Sarah Stephens at Red Fox Literary.