Leaf, Munro, 1905-1976

Munro Leaf was born in Hamilton, Maryland on December 4, 1905, and grew up in Washington, D.C. After receiving his B.A. from the University of Maryland and M.A. from Harvard University, Leaf first worked as an English teacher before moving to New York City with his wife, Margaret, in 1932. His first city job was as a manuscript reader at Bobbs-Merrill, but within the year he had moved to the F.A. Stokes Company where he remained an editor and a director until leaving to write full time in 1939. Leaf's first book, Grammar Can Be Fun (1934), was the first in a long series of "Can Be Fun" books written and illustrated by Leaf. His most lasting recognition was for writing The Story of Ferdinand, published in 1936 and illustrated by his friend Robert Lawson. In 1938, Disney's short-film animated adaptation "Ferdinand the Bull" was released to enormous fanfare. Another big hit came when Leaf collaborated with Ludwig Bemelman on the book Noodle (1937). Although Leaf is best remembered as an author of children's books, much of his life was spent working for the United States government. Leaf enlisted in the Army in 1942 and collaborated with Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) on a War Department health pamphlet on malaria, "This Is Ann," although neither Leaf nor Geisel were credited. After leaving the Army in 1946, Leaf returned to the State Department as a Specialist in 1960. Many of his children's books of this period were directed towards explaining (and fighting) Communism and promoting world peace. Leaf published more than fifty books, most as both author and illustrator.

From the description of Munro Leaf papers, 1918-1986. (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 770103280

Author of children's books; d. 1976.

From the description of Oral history interview, 1975. (Maryland Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 32819102