It is very sad to note that the great author died on March 17 2010- he lived a long and fruitful life and will be missed by all his fans.

Sid Fleischman, a Newbery Award-winning author who never set out to write for children but flung himself into the field on a dare, died at his home in Santa Monica, Calif., on March 17, the day after his 90th birthday.  The cause was cancer, his son, Paul, said. Presented annually by the American Library Association, the Newbery Award is widely regarded as the Pulitzer Prize of children’s literature.

Sid Fleischman received his in 1987 for "The Whipping Boy" (1986, illustrated by Peter Sis),

His other great work - By The Great Hornspoon, is a great book for all school children and adults and an absolutely fabulous homeschooling read. In this book, Sid managed to portray the harsh times of the California Gold Rush with gentleness and humor.

Mr. Fleischman’s work was praised by critics for its sly humor, carefully controlled suspense and dexterous sleights-of-hand  qualities that had served him well in his previous careers as a magician, Hollywood screenwriter and novelist for adults.