On this day, December 13, 1916, Leonard Weisgard was born in New Haven, Connecticut. After studies at Pratt Institute and at the New School for Social Research, Weisgard’s early career encompassed shop window display and making illustrations for major magazines. His first book Suki, the Siamese Pussy was published in 1937. In 1939 Weisgard began a long series of collaborations with Margaret Wise Brown including their Caldecott Medal winner The Little Island.