Simms Taback

Simms Taback (1932-2011) was an American author, graphic artist, and illustrator best known for his children's picture books featuring innovative die-cut designs and adaptations of Yiddish folktales. Born in the Bronx, New York, to Eastern European immigrant parents, he graduated from Cooper Union, served in the U.S. Army, and worked as a designer for CBS Records and The New York Times before becoming a freelance illustrator for major brands and designing the first McDonald's Happy Meal box. His notable works include the Caldecott Medal-winning Joseph Had a Little Overcoat (2000) and Caldecott Honor book There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly (1998), along with over 35 other books blending folk traditions with whimsical humor.