Else Holmelund Minarik was born September 13, 1920 in Denmark. She moved to the United States with her family at the age of four. Minarik began her writing career after she graduated from Queens College, City University of New York, and became a journalist for the Rome Daily Centennial. She also taught first graders to read in WWII and recognized the need for children's books with simple words. She is the author of the Little Bear children's series which sold more than 6 million copies and was made into a children's television series.