Donald J. Sobol was the author of the popular Encyclopedia Brown children's book series, featuring amateur sleuth Leroy "Encyclopedia" Brown. Sobol wrote the first book in 1963. The series went on to become a staple in classrooms and children's libraries across the country. It has been translated into 12 languages and has sold millions of copies worldwide. 2013 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Encyclopedia Brown series. Sobol's latest Encyclopedia Brown adventure, ENCYCLOPEDIA BROWN AND THE CASE OF THE SOCCER SCHEME, will be published in October 2012.

Sobol was born in New York City in 1924. He served in the Army Corps of Engineers during WWII. After the war he began his career as a copywriter at the New York Sun, where he eventually worked his way up to reporter. Sobol began writing mysteries in 1957. The idea for Encyclopedia Brown came to him when he was researching an article at the New York Public Library and a game book was handed to him in error by a desk clerk. The book had puzzles on one side of the page and solutions on the other. He thought why not write a mystery series with the same sort of premise. The Encyclopedia Brown books would eventually earn him an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America in 1976. Sobol authored more than 80 books.

Sobol passed away on July 11, 2012 at the age of 87. He is survived by his wife, Rose; a sister, Helen; three children, Diane, Eric and John; and four grandchildren, Gregory, Bryan, Lauren and Nicholas.

Books by Donald J. Sobol