Stuart E. Hample

Stuart "Stoo" Hample was an American author, cartoonist, and playwright best known for his internationally bestselling book "Children's Letters to God," which sold over 1.2 million copies. His diverse career spanned multiple creative fields, including writing over two dozen books, adapting "Children's Letters to God" into an Off-Broadway musical, and contributing to television shows such as "Kate & Allie" and "George Burns Comedy Week." Hample also co-created the syndicated comic strip "Inside Woody Allen" with comedian Woody Allen, later compiled in the book "Dread & Superficiality."

Hample's work often blended humor with poignant observations, evident in his children's books like "The Silly Book," "I Will Kiss You Lots & Lots & Lots," and "Stoo Hample's Book of Bad Manners." His career extended beyond writing - he performed as a musical cartoonist with symphony orchestras and hosted early television programs. A lifelong admirer of satirist Fred Allen, Hample wrote a play titled "all the sincerity in hollywood" based on Allen's work. At the time of his later career, he was developing a satirical book about the U.S. Senate, reflecting his enduring engagement with wit and social commentary.