Petersham, Maud Fuller, 1890-1971

Born September 20, 1888 in Hungary, Miska Petersham came to the U.S. in 1912. He met Maud Fuller (born August 5, 1890) when both were working for the advertising agency International Art Service in New York, and they were married in 1917. Their first book was published in 1929, and they went on to have lengthy careers as authors and illustrators of children's books. They won the Caldecott Medal in 1946 for The Rooster Crows: A Book of Children's Rhymes and Jingles . Miska Petersham died May 15, 1960. Maud Petersham died November 29, 1971.

Maud (Fuller) and Miska Petersham were a husband and wife team of authors and illustrators of children's books; winners of the Caldecott Medal in 1946 for The rooster crows.

Born in Hungary, Miska Petersham (1888-1960) came to the U.S. in 1912. He met Maud Fuller (1890-1971) when both were working for the advertising agency International Art Service in New York, and they were married in 1917. Their first book was published in 1929, and they went on to have lengthy careers as authors and illustrators of children's books. They won the Caldecott Medal in 1946 for The rooster crows: a book of American rhymes and jingles.

Biographical note: Children's book writer and illustrator.

Maud (Fuller) Petersham was born August 5, 1890, in Kingston, NY. She graduated from Vassar College in 1912 and later studied at the New York School of Fine and Applied Arts. While working for the International Art Service, an advertising agency in New York City, she met and married co-worker Miska Petersham. He had been born Mikaly Petrezselyem in Torokszentmiklos, Hungary, on September 20, 1888. In 1920 the Petershams illustrated their first book for children, The Enchanted Forest by William Bowen. During their long and prolific careers, they illustrated dozens of books by many different authors of both fiction and nonfiction. The Petershams also wrote and illustrated many books together, beginning in 1929 with Miki, the story of a little boy's trip to Hungary. Many of their books were about children from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Critics praised these books for the "respect they showed for other cultures and races." In 1942 the Petershams received a Caldecott Honor citation for An American A B C, and in 1946 they won the Caldecott Medal for The Rooster Crows: A Book of American Rhymes and Jingles. In the 1960s and 70s they were recognized by critics and educatiors for their "concern for multi-ethnic and racial consciousness" long before it became widely practiced in children's literature. Miska Petersham died on May 15, 1960, and Maud (Fuller) Petersham died on November 29, 1971. Biographical scources: Something About the Author, Vol. 17, p. 146-152 Twentieth Century Children's Writers, 3rd ed., p. 773-774.