L. Leslie (Leonard Leslie) Brooke

Born in Birkenhead, England, in 1862, L. Leslie Brooke was a British artist, book illustrator, and writer. He studied at Birkenhead School and at the Royal Academy Schools, and although he also painted in oils, he became especially admired for children's books.

Brooke built his reputation with witty pen-and-ink drawings and watercolors, illustrating works such as Andrew Lang's The Nursery Rhyme Book. He is still closely associated with his own story collections and picture books, including Johnny Crow's Garden, The Golden Goose Book, and The Story of the Three Little Pigs, all known for their playful energy and memorable animal characters.

A serious illness during travel in Italy left him permanently deaf, but he continued to produce work that feels bright, lively, and full of movement. He died in 1940, leaving behind books whose charm comes from both their storytelling and their unmistakable visual humor.