Sid Fleischman
Sid Fleischman was a versatile American author, magician, and journalist, born on March 16, 1920, in Brooklyn, New York. He served in the United States Naval Reserve during World War II and later pursued a career in writing after earning a degree from San Diego State University. Fleischman is best known for his children's literature, particularly the "McBroom" tall tales, which creatively blend humor with imaginative storytelling. His notable works include "The Whipping Boy," which won the prestigious Newbery Medal in 1987, and the "Bloodhound Gang" series, featuring engaging mysteries aimed at young readers. Fleischman's writing often incorporates elements of adventure and folklore, making his stories both entertaining and thought-provoking. Over the years, he received numerous awards, including the Golden Kite Award and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. His contributions to literature extend beyond children's books, as he also wrote screenplays and nonfiction works throughout his career. Fleischman's legacy continues to resonate, showcasing his ability to captivate audiences of all ages through imaginative storytelling.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Sid Fleischman
American children's novelist, screenwriter, and journalist.
- Born: March 16, 1920
- Birthplace: New York, New York
- Died: March 17, 2010
- Place of death: Santa, Monica, California
Biography
Albert Sidney Fleischman was born in Brooklyn, New York, on March 16, 1920, to Reuben and Sadie (Solomon) Fleischman. He entered the United States Naval Reserve, serving as yeoman on a destroyer escort in the Philippines, Borneo, and China from 1941 to 1945. He married Betty Taylor on January 25, 1942. Their children were named Jane, Anne, and Paul (who was also an author).
A magician and journalist, Fleischman worked vaudeville and night clubs between 1938 and 1941. After the war, he worked as a reporter for the San Diego Daily Journal from 1949 to 1950 and then became associate editor at Point magazine in San Diego from 1950 to 1951. He earned his B.A. from San Diego State College (now San Diego State University) in 1950 and devoted himself to writing full time. In addition to writing books, he wrote scripts for the children’s television show Three-Two-One Contact as well as screenplays and books for adults.
He is most known for the McBroom tall tales, the first of which was McBroom Tells the Truth (1966). In the story, an Iowa farmer, Josh McBroom, is hooked on stretching the truth into inventive and fun tall tales; for example, he says that hens glow in the dark after eating too many lightning bugs and that tomatoes can grow overnight. Almost as popular are Fleishman’s books about the Bloodhound Gang, a team of three young detectives who investigate mysterious crimes. The books are fast-paced and the mysteries, based on simple but believable gimmicks, are fun to solve.
The Whipping Boy, set in nineteenth century Europe, tells of a young orphan who takes the punishment (whipping) whenever a young prince misbehaves. He runs away with the prince and the result is a novel full of suspense, lively characters, and plenty of adventure. The Midnight Horse is another adventure story that mixes tall tale and folk tale. Jim Ugly is a parody set in the Old West with characters who are thinly disguised movie stars of the time—Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Mae West, and W. C. Fields.
Fleischman won many awards, including the 1964 Western Writers of America Spur Award; the 1972 George G. Stone Center for Children’s Books Award; the 1974 Society of Children’s Book Writers Golden Kite Award; and the 1979 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Humbug Mountain. In 1987, The Whipping Boy won the Newbery Medal.
Author Works
Children's Literature:
Mr. Mysterious and Company, 1962
By the Great Horn Spoon!, 1963 (also known as Bullwhip Griffin)
The Ghost in the Noonday Sun, 1965
McBroom Tells the Truth, 1966
Chancy and the Grand Rascal, 1966
McBroom and the Big Wind, 1967
McBroom's Ear, 1970
Longbeard the Wizard, 1970
Jingo Django, 1971
McBroom's Ghost, 1971
McBroom's Zoo, 1971
The Wooden Cat Man, 1972
The Ghost on Saturday Night, 1974
McBroom Tells a Lie, 1976
Kate's Secret Riddle Book, 1977
Me and the Man on the Moon-Eyed Horse, 1977 (also known as The Man on the Moon-Eyed Horse)
McBroom and the Beanstalk, 1978
Humbug Mountain, 1978
The Hey Hey Man, 1979
McBroom and the Great Race, 1980
The Bloodhound Gang in the Case of the Flying Clock, 1981
The Bloodhound Gang series, 1981–82
McBroom's Almanac, 1982
The Whipping Boy, 1986
The Scarebird, 1988
The Ghost in the Noonday Sun, 1989
The Midnight Horse, 1990
Jim Ugly, 1992
The 13th Floor: A Ghost Story, 1995
Bandit's Moon, 1998
A Carnival of Animals, 2000
Bo and Mzzz Mad, 2001
Disappearing Act, 2003
The Giant Rat of Sumatra, 2005
The White Elephant, 2006
The Entertainer and the Dybbuk, 2008
The Dream Stealer, 2009
Screenplays:
Blood Alley, 1955
Goodbye, My Lady, 1956 (based on the novel by James Street)
Lafayette Escadrille, 1958 (with William A. Wellman)
The Deadly Companions, 1961
Scalawag, 1973 (with Albert Maltz)
The Whipping Boy, 1994 (as Max Brindle)
Long Fiction:
The Straw Donkey Case, 1948
Murder's No Accident, 1949
Shanghai Flame, 1951
Look Behind You, Lady, 1952 (also known as Chinese Crimson)
Danger in Paradise, 1953
Malay Woman, 1954 (also known as Malaya Manhunt)
Counterspy Express, 1954
Blood Alley, 1955
Yellowleg, 1960
The Venetian Blonde, 1963
Nonfiction:
Between Cocktails, 1939
Magic Made Easy, 1953 (as Carl March)
Mr. Mysterious's Secrets of Magic, 1975 (also known as Secrets of Magic; as Carl March)
The Charlatan's Handbook, 1993
The Abracadabra Kid: A Writer's Life, 1996
Escape! The Story of the Great Houdini, 2006
The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West, 2008
Sir Charlie: Chaplin, the Funniest Man in the World, 2010
Bibliography
Fleischman, Sid. "Reality on Laughing Gas." Horn Book Magazine, vol. 70, no. 2, 1994, p. 162. In this article, Fleischman discusses the sources of inspiration for his books, with particular focus on the McBroom series.
Fox, Margalit. "Sid Fleischman, Children's Author, Dies at 90." The New York Times, 24 Mar. 2010, www.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/books/25fleischman.html. This obituary provides basic information on Fleischman's life and works.
Russell, David L. "Fleischman, (Albert) Sid(ney)." Continuum Encyclopedia of Children's Literature, Bloomsbury, 2005, pp. 287–88. Contains biographical information on Fleischman and an overview of his major works.