Leo the Late Bloomer

Robert Kraus (June 21, 1925 – August 7, 2001) was an American children's author illustrator, cartoonist and publisher. His successful career began early at the New Yorker Magazine, producing hundreds of cartoons and nearly two dozen covers for the magazine over 15 years. Afterwards, he pivoted his career to children's literature, writing and illustrating over 100 children’s books and publishing even more as the founder of publishing house Windmill Books (later an imprint of Simon & Schuster). His body of work is best remembered for depicting animal heroes who always try their best and never give up, which were ideals important to him at an early age.