Jay Williams (1914–1978) was an American author best known for his contributions to children's literature, particularly the young adult science fiction series "Danny Dunn," co-authored with Raymond Abrashkin. The series, which spanned 15 books from 1956 to 1977, became a hallmark of his career. Williams also wrote mysteries for young readers, including "The Stolen Oracle," "The Counterfeit African," and "The Roman Moon Mystery." Over his prolific career, he published 79 books across genres, including picture books, historical novels, adult mysteries, and nonfiction works.
Born in Buffalo, New York, Williams drew inspiration from his upbringing as the son of a vaudeville producer, which led him to pursue acting and comedy early in life. After serving in the Army during World War II—where he earned a Purple Heart—he transitioned to writing full-time. His diverse background in theater, film, and publicity informed his engaging storytelling style, particularly in his works for young readers. Williams's ability to blend adventure, humor, and scientific curiosity made his books enduring favorites.
Another author sharing the same name, Jay Williams, is a contemporary writer known for his short stories published in literary and men's magazines such as "The Stake" and "SingleLife." He has authored several eBooks, including "SOULS ON FIRE," "TAX BREAK," and "WINGS OF HONOR," often exploring themes of relationships and societal commentary. An avid adventurer, he enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and has a penchant for humor, reflected in his writing. While distinct from the mid-20th-century children's author, this Jay Williams continues to contribute to modern literary and cultural conversations.
Standalone Novels
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The Good Yeomen
1948
2
The Rogue From Padua
1954
3
The Witches
1957
4
The Siege
1957
5
Solomon and Sheba
1959
6
Tomorrow's Fire
1964
7
The Forger
1964
8
Uniad
1969
9
Stage Left
1974
Short Stories/Novellas
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Medusa's Head
1960
2
The Question Box
1965
Short Story Collections
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Unearthly Beasts
1979
Non-Fiction Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Fall of the Sparrow
1951
2
A Change Of Climate
1956
3
Knights of the Crusades
1962
4
Joan of Arc
1963
5
Life in the Middle Ages
1966
6
The Spanish Armada
1966
Children's Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Puppy Pie (With: Wayne Blickenstaff)
1962
2
Philbert the Fearful
1966
3
The Cookie Tree
1967
4
The Sword of King Arthur
1968
5
To Catch a Bird
1968
6
The King with Six Friends (With: Imero Gobbato)
1968
7
The Practical Princess and Other Liberating Fairy Tales
1969
8
The Good-For-Nothing Prince
1969
9
School for Sillies
1969
10
Stupid Marco (With: Friso Henstra)
1970
11
The Hawkstone
1971
12
The Silver Whistle (With: Friso Henstra)
1971
13
A Present from a Bird
1971
14
The Hero from Otherwhere
1972
15
The Youngest Captain (With: Friso Henstra)
1972
16
Seven at One Blow (With: Friso Henstra)
1972
17
Jay Williams' Magical Storybook (With: Edward Sorel)
1972
18
Petronella
1973
19
A Bag Full of Nothing (With: Tom O'Sullivan)
1974
20
Forgetful Fred (With: Friso Henstra)
1974
21
People of the Axe
1975
22
The Burglar Next Door (With: DeAnne Hollinger)
1976
23
Everyone Knows What a Dragon Looks Like (With: Mercer Mayer)
1976
24
Moon Journey
1976
25
The Time of the Kraken
1977
26
The Reward Worth Having (With: Mercer Mayer)
1977
27
Daylight Robbery
1977
28
Pettifur (With: Hilary Knight)
1977
29
Voyage to the Moon (With: Daniel Le Noury)
1977
30
The Wicked Tricks of Tyl Uilenspiegel (With: Friso Henstra)
1978
31
The Surprising Things Maui Did (With: Charles Mikolaycak)
1979
32
The Magic Grandfather
1979
33
The City Witch & The Country Witch (With: Ed Renfro)
1979
34
One Big Wish (With: John O'Brien)
1980
35
The Water of Life (With: Lucinda McQueen, Victoria Williams)
1980
36
Myth, Memory & Imagination
1999
Jay Williams Teen & Young Adult
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The Stolen Oracle
1943
2
The Counterfeit African
1944
3
The Roman Moon Mystery
1948
Danny Dunn Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Danny Dunn and the Anti-Gravity Paint (With: Raymond Abrashkin)
1956
2
Danny Dunn on a Desert Island (With: Raymond Abrashkin)
1957
3
Danny Dunn and the Homework Machine (With: Raymond Abrashkin)
1958
4
Danny Dunn and the Weather Machine (With: Raymond Abrashkin)
1959
5
Danny Dunn on the Ocean Floor (With: Raymond Abrashkin)
1960
6
Danny Dunn and the Fossil Cave
1961
7
Danny Dunn and the Heat Ray (With: Raymond Abrashkin, Owen Kampen)
1962
8
Danny Dunn, Time Traveler
1964
9
Danny Dunn and the Automatic House
1965
10
Danny Dunn And The Voice From Space (With: Leo Summers, Raymond Abrashkin)
1967
11
Danny Dunn and the Smallifying Machine (With: Gervasio Gallardo, Paul Sagsoorian, Raymond Abrashkin)
1969
12
Danny Dunn and the Swamp Monster (With: Paul Sagsoorian, Raymond Abrashkin)
1971
13
Danny Dunn, Invisible Boy (With: Paul Sagsoorian, Raymond Abrashkin)
1974
14
Danny Dunn, Scientific Detective (With: Paul Sagsoorian, Raymond Abrashkin)
1975
15
Danny Dunn and the Universal Glue (With: Paul Sagsoorian, Raymond Abrashkin)
1977
A Case for Cannon Books (as Michael Delving)
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Smiling the Boy Fell Dead
1966
2
The Devil Finds Work
1969
3
Die Like a Man
1970
4
Bored to Death
1975
5
No Sign of Life
1990
Bob Eddison Books (as Michael Delving)
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
A Shadow Of Himself
1972
Time-Life Library of Art Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The World of Rubens: 1577-1640 (By: Scott Jurek)
1967
2
The World of Goya ( By: Richard Schickel)
1968
3
The World of Titian: 1488-1576
1968
4
The World of Velazquez: 1599-1660 (By: Dale Brown)
1969
5
The world of Turner, 1775-1851 (By: Diana Hirsh, Richard Kreitner)
1972
U.S. Landmark Non-Fiction Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (By: Ted W. Lawson, Peter B. Mersky)
1943
2
The Voyages of Christopher Columbus (By: Armstrong Sperry)
1950
3
The Landing of the Pilgrims (By: James Daugherty)
1950
4
Our Independence and the Constitution (By: Dorothy Canfield Fisher)
1950
5
Paul Revere and the Minute Men (By: Dorothy Canfield Fisher)
1950
6
The Monitor and the Merrimac and Other Naval Battles (By: Fletcher Pratt)
1951
7
The Pirate Lafitte and the Battle of New Orleans ( By: Robert Tallant)
1951
8
Ben Franklin of Old Philadelphia (By: Margaret Cousins)
1952
9
Trappers and Traders of the Far West (By: James Daugherty)
1952
10
Clipper Ship Days (By: John Edward Jennings)
1952
11
The Louisiana Purchase ( By: Robert Tallant)
1952
12
John Paul Jones, Fighting Sailor (By: Armstrong Sperry)
1953
13
Clara Barton (By: Helen Boylston)
1955
14
Davy Crockett (By: Stewart Hall Holbrook)
1955
15
The Story of D-Day (By: Bruce Bliven Jr.)
1956
16
Abe Lincoln: Log Cabin to White House (By: Sterling North)
1956
17
Wyatt Earp: U.S. Marshal (By: Stewart Hall Holbrook)
1956
18
Evangeline and The Acadians ( By: Robert Tallant)
1957
19
Remember the Alamo! ( By: Robert Penn Warren)
1958
20
Andrew Carnegie and the Age of Steel (By: Katherine Binney Shippen)
1958
21
The American Revolution (By: Bruce Bliven Jr.)
1958
22
The Battle for the Atlantic
1959
23
The Golden Age of Railroads (By: Stewart Hall Holbrook)
1960
24
From Pearl Harbor to Okinawa: The War in the Pacific: 1941-1945 (By: Bruce Bliven Jr.)
1960
25
William Penn: Quaker Hero (By: Hildegarde Dolson)
1961
26
Americans into Orbit: The Story of Project Mercury (By: Gene Gurney)
1962
27
Mr. Bell Invents the Telephone (By: Katherine Binney Shippen)
1963
28
The Story of Thomas Alva Edison (By: Margaret Cousins)
1965
29
From Casablanca To Berlin- The War in North Africa and Europe: 1942-1945 (By: Bruce Bliven Jr.)
1965
30
Walk in Space: The Story of Project Gemini (By: Gene Gurney)
1967
31
The Copper Kings of Montana (By: Marian T. Place)
1967
32
Battle for Iwo Jima ( By: Robert Leckie)
1967
33
The Mysterious Voyage of Captain Kidd (By: A.B.C. Whipple)
1970
34
George Washington: Frontier Colonel (By: Sterling North)
2006
35
The Swamp Fox of the Revolution (By: Stewart Hall Holbrook)