Bernard Waber

Bernard Waber, born into a creative family, is a well-known author and illustrator, best known for his beloved character, Lyle the Crocodile. As a child, Waber would imagine beginnings and middles for the last ten minutes of movies he saw, having ushered at a movie theater after school. After serving in World War II, he attended the Philadelphia College of Art, and later moved to New York City with his wife, where he began working for Condé Nast magazines as an illustrator.

Waber's career in children's literature was inspired by reading books to his three children. His first book, Lorenzo, was published in 1961, and since then, his characters have become some of the most cherished in the library. He and his wife, Ethel, reside on Long Island. Waber once said, "I am sometimes introduced to a child as 'This is Mr. Waber. Mr. Waber is the man who writes those stories about Lyle the Crocodile.' I offer, instead, to show off some of my Lyle memorabilia, a collection acquired mostly through the generosity of good-humored friends and readers." Waber's own childhood experiences, education, and family life have all contributed to his successful career as a children's book author and illustrator.