Syd Hoff was a prolific children's author and illustrator who wrote over 50 books. He is best known for his classic Danny and the Dinosaur series, which has sold over 8 million copies worldwide. He also wrote the Sammy the Seal series and the I Can Read series. Hoff was born in 1912 in New York City and died in 2004. He was awarded the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal in 1982 for his lasting contribution to children's literature.