Dan Yaccarino is an American author, illustrator and television producer known for his animated television series, children?s books and award-winning imagery. Growing up with no children?s books in his home in Montclair, NJ, Yaccarino was influenced by a combination of advertising, package design, comic books, vintage animation, toys and old films. ?I?m not really inspired by other children?s book authors and illustrators,? Yaccarino was quoted in saying. ?But rather people from other fields. I?d much rather meet the director Henry Selick, Tim Delaughter of The Polyphonic Spree, the science fiction author William Tenn, or the Dalai Lama.? 

May 20th, 1965 in Montclair (Age 59)