* Early Exposure to Poetry: He grew up in a home filled with books, including poetry collections, which fostered an early appreciation for the art form.
* Love of Words: Prelutsky has always been fascinated by words, their sounds, and their meanings. He describes himself as a "word-lover" and credits his enjoyment of language as a driving force behind his writing.
* Sense of Humor: Prelutsky is known for his playful and humorous poems, which often stem from his own experiences and observations. He believes that humor is a powerful tool for connecting with readers and making poetry accessible.
* Influence of Other Poets: He acknowledges the influence of poets like Ogden Nash, Shel Silverstein, and G.K. Chesterton, who all contributed to the development of his unique style.
Ultimately, it's likely a combination of these factors that inspired Jack Prelutsky to embrace poetry as a form of creative expression and share his playful and imaginative world with others.