Awarded the Caldecott medal in 1948 for Alvin Tresselt’s White Snow Bright Snow, Roger Duvoisin, born on August 28, 1904, had experience in many media before turning to illustration and becoming quite well-known as a prolific illustrator. He also turned his attention to writing books for children, giving readers unforgettable and highly original characters, among them Petunia, a goose, and Veronica, a hippopotamus.

Mr. Duvoisin was married to children’s book author, Louise Fatio, with whom he wrote The Happy Lioness. He was honored with the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota in 1976. Mr. Duvoisin died in June of 1980 in Morristown, New Jersey.

— Leslie Greaves Radloff