The Little Fisherman
Margaret Wise Brown wrote more than one hundred children's books, including the beloved classics Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny. She is credited with developing the "here and now" philosophy of writing for children: She believed children would become more engaged in a story when it was about everyday life that they could relate to rather than fantasies or fairy tales. She often wrote at her island home, The Only House, on Vinalhaven Island, Maine. Her Caldecott Medal-winning book, The Little Island, was based on her Maine retreat. Her prolific career was cut short at the age of forty-two, when she died from complications following surgery. More than fifty years later, her books, some written under pen names, remain favorites of parents and children alike.