Jack Prelutsky has written so many books for young readers, he's not sure of the exact figure.

	The Poetry Foundation Jack Prelutsky has written "around 70" books, by his count. Click photo for larger image. Related articles Focus Book: Poem from 'Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant' Highlight Book: 'Bronx Masquerade' U Review

"Somewhere around 70," the poetic Prelutsky said from his home in Seattle.

This year, he marks his 40th year as a published author, a milestone he'll celebrate by releasing at least four more books. Three are just out: "Good Sports," "Me I Am" and "In Aunt Giraffe's Green Garden."

The first is about the kinds of games children love to play, easy to understand because Prelutsky is a big sports fan. When we talked to him by phone, he was watching the New York Yankees-Tampa Bay Devil Rays game on TV.

"I was born in Brooklyn but grew up in the Bronx, which is why I'm a Yankee fan," he explained. "But, I'm really a Mariners fan now."

His move to the Bronx was an unexpected one, as he tells the story.

"I was just 6 months old when our apartment building in Brooklyn caught on fire," Prelutsky said. "The building was owned by Legs Diamond [a New Yorker gangster], and they said the fire was 'suspicious.' Anyway, my parents and my other relatives all came down to the street, and they all thought somebody else had me with them. I was still up there!"

Prelutsky says a uncle, crippled with polio, dashed up the five flights to save him. The writer says he's survived other near-death experiences in his 66 years, including the time a robber put a gun to his head when he was a young New York City cab driver.

"I left the city not long after that," he laughed.

But he left it as a 23-year-old author. His first children's book, "The Gopher in the Garden," was published in 1967.

"I figured that was it," Prelutsky said. "Everybody has one book in them, right? I thought that was mine."

He was wrong. while working at a succession of jobs -- carpenter, office clerk, furniture mover, fruit picker, janitor -- he kept writing.

"My editor told me I had a gift for poetry, so I believed her. Guess she was right.

Prelutsky is so successful that last year the Poetry Foundation named him America's Poet Laureate for Children.

"First I was tickled. Then I wondered why they couldn't find somebody else," he joked. "But I hate to write prose anyway."