Judd Palmer is the author of the series Preposterous Fables for Unusual Children.

Judd Palmer, bestselling author of The Tooth Fairy and The Maestro, both published by Bayeux Arts, was born in Calgary, Alberta, the product of both stoic-Texan and sentimental-Greek lineage. His early years were spent often in the mountains, listening to the stories of grizzled old climbers in snow-bound alpine huts, or on the family ranch, being scared of horses. He attended Trinity College at the University of Toronto. He eventually emerged, blinking into the sunlight, with a degree in philosophy.

In 1999, Judd and his friends founded The Old Trout Puppet Workshop, down on the ranch of his youth. Their first show premiered to a bunkhouse full of cowboys and Hutterites, but now tours across the country. They make large-scale puppet theatre for both adults and children—and generally try to erase that distinction. Their latest production is a puppet opera based on the ancient poem Beowulf.

The Old Trouts are currently touring a puppet theatre version of Judd’s book The Tooth Fairy. It’s a musical, in collaboration with David Rhymer, much acclaimed by critics:

“one of the best, most surreal works of imagination I’ve seen in ages,” —See Magazine, Edmonton
“Utterly captivating.” —Ottawa Citizen
“marvelous ... dazzling” —Fast-Forward, Calgary

The second book in the series Preposterous Fables for Unusual Children, The Maestro, has also been adapted for performance; Dandi Productions tours the show to orchestras around the continent, playing to thousands of children. The illustrations for the books, along with various stage designs, will be exhibited in October at the University of Calgary. Judd worked as a puppeteer for Disney and YTV, and most recently on Whoopi’s Littleburg for Nickelodeon. He has traveled the nation with a Punch and Judy show in a suitcase, and also works as a freelance illustrator. He’s the lead singer and slide banjo player for the underground bluegrass group, The Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir.