Munro Leaf wrote a number of books for children, including The Story of Ferdinand and Wee Gillis , both illustrated by Robert Lawson. Because of his work's international appeal, Mr. Leaf and his wife were invited on three twenty-six-country tours under the auspices of the U.S. State Department, giving talks to children and to local educators and librarians. Mr. Leaf died in 1976. Robert Lawson is the only person ever to receive both the Newbery and Caldecott Awards, for They Were Strong and Good and Rabbit Hill , respectively.

Mr. Lawson died in 1957.