JANETTE SEBRING LOWREY (1892-1986), a Texan, wrote mostly teen fiction during the 1940s and 1950s. Her young adult novel┬аMargaret┬аwas adapted into a TV serial,┬аWalt Disney Presents: Annette,┬аwhich aired on┬аThe Mickey Mouse Club┬аin 1958, starring Annette Funicello. But Lowrey is best known as the author of┬аThe Poky Little Puppy,┬аwhich was one of the original twelve Little Golden Books that launched in 1942. It went on to become an icon, and the bestselling picture book of all time.
GUSTAF TENGGREN┬а(1896тАУ1970) was a well-known illustrator in his native Sweden before immigrating to the United States in 1920. He illustrated many Golden Books, beginning with┬аThe Poky Little Puppy.┬аOne of the original twelve Little Golden Books┬аpublished in 1942,┬аThe Poky Little Puppy┬аwent on to become the bestselling picture book of all time. Other iconic Little Golden Books illustrated by Tenggren include┬аThe Saggy Baggy Elephant,┬аThe Shy Little Kitten,┬аand┬аTawny Scrawny Lion.┬аIn the late 1930s, Tenggren worked for the Disney Studio, providing concept artwork (created to inspire and guide animators) for various characters and scenes in┬аBambi, The Old Mill, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio,┬аand┬аFantasia.