Tom Birdseye

Tom Birdseye
Born (1951-07-13) July 13, 1951 (age 75)
Durham, North Carolina, US
EducationWestern Kentucky University
(BA, 1974; 1977)
Spouse
Debbie Holsclaw
​
(m. 1974)​
Children2
Writing career
Notable works
Websitetombirdseye.com

Tom Birdseye (born 1951) is an American children's author. Notable books include Just Call Me Stupid (1993) and Attack of the Mutant Underwear (2003).

Early life and education

Birdseye was born in Durham, North Carolina on July 13, 1951, to Irving Earl and Mary Hughes (née Carmichael) Birdseye. His father was a minister, and his mother was a librarian. He grew up in North Carolina and Kentucky.

He attended the University of Kentucky from 1969 to 72; he then attended Western Kentucky University, from which he earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in mass communications in 1974, followed by a BA in elementary education in 1977.

Career

Birdseye began his career as an educator, teaching in public schools. He also spent time teaching English in Japan. His first book, I'm Going to Be Famous, was published with Holiday House in 1986. He has since published over 20 books for children, including fiction, nonfiction, and children's books.

The American Library Association has included his 2003 novel Attack of the Mutant Underwear on their list of "Frequently Challenged Children's Books".

Personal life

Birdseye married Debbie Holsclaw, a fellow educator, on May 18, 1974. The couple have two children.

As of 2026, Birdseye lives with his wife in Corvallis, Oregon.

Bibliography

Children's and young adult fiction

Children's and young adult nonfiction

Picture books

References

  1. ↑ "Just Call Me Stupid by Tom Birdseye". Publishers Weekly. October 4, 1993. Archived from the original on November 18, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Just Call Me Stupid". Booklist. January 15, 1994. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  3. ↑ "ATTACK OF THE MUTANT UNDERWEAR by Tom Birdseye". Publishers Weekly. December 8, 2003. Archived from the original on March 13, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Attack of the Mutant Underwear". Booklist. January 1, 2004. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Birdseye, Tom 1951-". Encyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  6. 1 2 Bright, Sallie (December 26, 1986). "Author writes for all ages". The Advocate-Messenger. Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  7. ↑ DeSilver, Drew (February 26, 1987). "Like his book's title, Birdseye wants to be famous". The Spokesman-Review. Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Frequently Challenged Children's Books | Banned Books". American Library Association. Archived from the original on June 28, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  9. ↑ "About". Tom Birdseye. Archived from the original on April 16, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Tucker". Kirkus Reviews. March 15, 1990. Archived from the original on August 15, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Tarantula Shoes". Booklist. April 15, 1995. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Tarantula Shoes". Kirkus Reviews. April 15, 1995. Archived from the original on May 19, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  13. ↑ "The Eye of the Stone". Booklist. February 15, 2001. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  14. ↑ "A Tough Nut to Crack". Booklist. January 1, 2007. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  15. ↑ "A Tough Nut to Crack". Kirkus Reviews. November 15, 2006. Archived from the original on May 19, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Storm Mountain". Booklist. December 1, 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Storm Mountain". Kirkus Reviews. September 1, 2010. Archived from the original on November 16, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  18. ↑ "There Is No Map for This". Kirkus Reviews. August 15, 2024. Archived from the original on May 11, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  19. ↑ Wheeler, Carla (August 15, 1993). "Fort building helps build self-esteem". Reno Gazette-Journal. Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "What I Believe". Kirkus Reviews. November 15, 1996. Archived from the original on September 23, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Under Our Skin: Kids Talk about Race". Booklist. December 15, 1997. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Airmail to the Moon by Tom Birdseye". Publishers Weekly. April 1, 1988. Archived from the original on February 11, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Airmail to the Moon". Kirkus Reviews. March 15, 1988. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  24. ↑ "A Song of Stars: An Asian Legend by Tom Birdseye". Publishers Weekly. March 1, 1990. Archived from the original on March 16, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  25. ↑ "A Song of Stars: An Asian Legend". Kirkus Reviews. March 15, 1990. Archived from the original on April 21, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Waiting for Baby". Booklist. November 1, 1991. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Soap! Soap! Don't Forget the Soap! An Appalachian Folktale". Booklist. March 15, 1993. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Soap! Soap! Don't Forget the Soap!". Kirkus Reviews. May 1, 1993. Archived from the original on September 13, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  29. ↑ "A Regular Flood of Mishap by Tom Birdseye". Publishers Weekly. February 28, 1994. Archived from the original on March 6, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  30. ↑ "A Regular Flood of Mishap". Booklist. March 15, 1994. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  31. ↑ "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain by Tom Birdseye". Publishers Weekly. August 29, 1994. Archived from the original on February 12, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  32. ↑ "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain". Booklist. July 1994. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  33. ↑ "LOOK OUT, JACK! THE GIANT IS BACK! by Tom Birdseye". Publishers Weekly. September 10, 2001. Archived from the original on March 12, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Look Out, Jack! The Giant Is Back!". Booklist. September 1, 2001. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  35. ↑ "OH YEAH! by Tom Birdseye". Publishers Weekly. August 11, 2003. Archived from the original on February 9, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Oh Yeah!". Kirkus Reviews. July 15, 2003. Archived from the original on April 13, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.

Further reading