L. Leslie (Leonard Leslie) Brooke

Leonard Leslie Brooke was a British artist, illustrator, and writer born in Birkenhead, England, on September 24, 1862. He studied at Birkenhead School and the Royal Academy Schools, and later became known for richly drawn, playful work for children.

He illustrated books by other writers as well as creating his own. Among the titles most closely associated with him are Johnny Crow's Garden, The Golden Goose Book, and The Story of the Three Little Pigs. His pictures are especially remembered for their energy, clear storytelling, and gentle comic charm.

Brooke died in 1940. More than a century after many of his books first appeared, they remain easy to enjoy, especially for listeners and readers who love classic nursery tales, animal characters, and beautifully imagined old-fashioned story worlds.