Else Holmelund Minarik was born in Denmark on September 13, 1920. When she was four years old, she immigrated to the United States with her family. She received a B.A. from Queens College in 1942. She worked as reporter for the Daily Sentinel before becoming a first grade teacher and recognized the need for children's books with simple words. Her first book, Little Bear, was published in 1957 with illustrations by Maurice Sendak. She wrote over 40 children's books during her lifetime including No Fighting, No Biting!, Little Bear's Visit, The Little Giant Girl and the Elf Boy, A Kiss for Little Bear, Percy and the Five Houses, and Little Bear and the Marco Polo. She died of complications from a recent heart attack on July 12, 2012 at the age of 91.
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