An American children's book author, he is best known for works such as the Tuck-Me-In Tales and the Sleepy-Time Tales. He also published a comic strip entitled Animal Whys.
After earning his degree from Harvard, he worked briefly as a grocer before becoming an Editor for several publishing houses.
His children's books were filled with advanced vocabulary and with whimsical insect characters who delivered, through their adventures, lessons on the responsibilities of growing up.
He adopted his wife's two children from her previous marriage. He may have been inspired by his stepchildren to begin writing children's fiction.
Kevin Henkes was another popular children's book author.
